Am I up to the challenge? I promised you a blog-a-day, which means I have to come up with something meaningful to say each and every morning of the year. Yikes! What have a done? Hopefully, I can keep my word and keep the words flowing in your direction. Your job is to remember to visit this blog. Support my efforts while learning, gleaning information and becoming aware of resources you might have overlooked.<\/p>\n
I spent most of yesterday in follow-up mode. I contacted all of the magazine and newsletter editors, etc. who had received review copies of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>, and the companion Author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Workbook<\/em>, but who had not responded. I followed up with a few editors who are still holding my articles. I emailed reminders to people who offered testimonials for my website. And I checked in with some of my clients who hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t been in touch for a while.<\/p>\n Follow-up is an important part of any writing or publishing business. Not everyone is on your schedule. There are always those who are lackadaisical about responding or too busy to return your emails or calls. In most cases, the bookseller, web host, editor, reviewer, etc. is not anywhere near as interested in your project as you are. You can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect these people to have the same level of attachment to your book as you do. They don’t have the same motivation to see your book succeed as you do and you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t always count on people to do what they say they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll do on behalf of your book. Instead, make sure that they do it. This means following up. Here are some pointers:<\/p>\n Schedule Follow-up Days<\/strong> Keep Good Records<\/strong> Log the Tracers<\/strong> Keep it Cordial<\/strong> The follow-up process is almost as daunting as making cold calls, but it is so very important to the health of your writing or publishing business. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a freelance writer or published author, you are a business owner. Do the best job that you can on behalf of your business. Get into the habit of following up.<\/p>\n Read more about operating a writing or publishing business in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.<\/em> Use the Author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Workbook <\/em>to help you move more smoothly and successfully through the writing, publishing and book promotion process. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> And sign up for my online courses-on-demand at: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/courses.htm<\/a> Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com <\/p>\n
\nIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s easy to get busy and forget the promise the ABC Bookstore manager made to get back to you about carrying your book. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll work right past the date your review was supposed to appear in XYZ Magazine. You may even miss the opportunity to be interviewed on local radio because you sat around waiting for the producer to call you. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t automatically expect people to do what they say. Make sure that they do it. Why not dedicate one morning each week to making follow-up contacts? Devise a schedule and stick to it.<\/p>\n
\nWrite down the name and contact information for everyone to whom you communicate with regard to your book project. Note the date of your conversation\/email messages and the expected outcome. Once the book has been reviewed, the bookseller has called you with his decision, your article has been accepted or you have been approved to speak at an event, for example, log the details of this information. If you do not hear back from the individual within a certain time frame, you need to contact him or her.<\/p>\n
\nNote the date and content of each follow-up transaction or communication. Over time, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll deal with a whole lot of book reviewers, editors, etc. and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s easy to lose track of who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s who and what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what.<\/p>\n
\nYou may be frustrated, angry or down right upset because someone didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t call or write when they said they would. But don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let it show. Keep your email and phone messages professional and cordial. As a friend used to tell me when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d become angry with someone who cut me off in traffic, for example, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on in his life\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhe could have just lost someone or received a bad diagnosis from his doctor.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d There could be a good reason why this person neglected to contact you, but there is no reason why you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t follow up and find out.<\/p>\n