You wrote an amazing book, designed it to perfection and even managed to get it published. But it isn\u2019t selling as well as you thought it would. What went wrong?<\/p>\n
As the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and an international speaker, I meet many authors who are disappointed in their book sales. I think it\u2019s fair to say that 100 percent of the time the fault lies with the author and he or she has the power to change the situation. Here are three common mistakes first-time authors make and tips for how to avoid or repair them:<\/p>\n
1: The author doesn\u2019t know that he is responsible for promotion<\/strong>. Obviously, this author didn\u2019t take the time and initiative to study the publishing industry or he would have known that his job isn\u2019t over once the book is published. Hopefully, the author will turn to informative sites, newsletters, forums and books where he\u2019ll quickly learn that authorship requires a commitment beyond the proper dotting of i\u2019s and crossing of t\u2019s.<\/p>\n He can still launch a marketing plan. He might solicit book reviews for publication in appropriate magazines and at related websites, submit press releases to newspapers and set up a speaking tour to promote his book, for example. <\/p>\n 2: The author doesn\u2019t take the opportunity to build promotion into his book while he\u2019s writing it<\/strong>. Savvy authors think about their target audience while they are writing and designing their books. If yours would make a good reference book, for example, you\u2019ll want to include a complete index. For a novel, choose a setting that is conducive to promotion\u2014a town that others want to read about and that would welcome your promotional appearances locally.<\/p>\n You could build promotion into your how-to book by involving a lot of experts and\/or organizations. These individuals and organization leaders will promote the book to their contacts. For a novel, give a character a popular ailment and present it in a positive light and related associations might just agree to help with promotion.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t think to build promotion into your book as you were writing it, dissect it now in search of possible promotional opportunities that are imbedded within. Does your young adult novel feature a girl with a horse? Perhaps horse and riding magazines, newsletters and Web sites would review it, publish excerpts or welcome your targeted article on an aspect of horsemanship. Maybe you could get some press related to your self-help book for women with phobias through health columns in newspapers nationwide, women\u2019s magazines or on radio talk shows such as \u201cThe Satellite Sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n Did you interview a high profile individual for your book? Ask her to promote the book to her audience. Request an interview with her for a major magazine. Do you have some impressive expert testimonials in your book? Play them up in your promotional material.<\/p>\n 3: The author neglects to establish a platform<\/strong>. Many new authors don\u2019t know what a platform is. It\u2019s the author\u2019s following, his reach, his way of attracting his target audience, his connections and skills. Most successful authors today have a platform in place before they produce a book. <\/p>\n My platform for my writing\/publishing-related books revolves around my experience in this field, my exposure through previously published and distributed books and articles on these subjects, my affiliation with SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and my active and far-reaching speaking and workshop schedule. <\/p>\n Your platform for your book on phobias might be the fact that you\u2019re a psychologist in this area of study, that you suffered a severe phobia for years, that you work with women with phobias, that you\u2019ve written about this for years. <\/p>\n Even as a novelist, you\u2019ll need a following and this can be established through published stories, popular\/active Web site, the fact that you are accustomed to traveling around and speaking or are involved in storytelling. Maybe you are getting ready to retire and plan to travel and promote your book throughout states.<\/p>\n How can you play catch-up with regard to your platform? Start now getting exposure. Establish credibility in your field. Participate in forums on your topic, write letters to the editors of appropriate magazines and articles for magazines, speak to groups locally and beyond and create news.<\/p>\n I will share additional book promotion mistakes and remedies in tomorrow\u2019s blog. In the meantime, check out my offerings here: You wrote an amazing book, designed it to perfection and even managed to get it published. But it isn\u2019t selling as well as you thought it would. What went wrong? As the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and an international speaker, I meet many authors who are disappointed in their book […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a>
\n http:\/\/www.patriciafry.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"