Here are more book promotion mistakes that authors make. Do you see yourself in any of these scenarios?<\/p>\n
4: The author has unrealistic expectations<\/strong>. Many first-time authors (we\u2019ve all been there) expect to sell their books by the truckloads through mega bookstores. They believe that any good book will be eagerly welcomed by bookstore owners and managers. The reality is that few people outside of traditional royalty publishers with track records can get new books into bookstores. And space on bookstore shelves does not guarantee sales. In fact, books that are not selling will be returned\u2014sometimes within the first six months.<\/p>\n As the author, you can get your books into bookstores. How? Make a big enough splash with your book that readers are swarming to bookstores asking for it by name. This might mean appearing on TV and radio with your book, presenting large seminars related to your book all over the U.S. and getting tons of press by creating news and submitting press releases to newspapers everywhere. Become high profile and get enough exposure for your book and, even if you are self-published or went with a fee-based self-publishing services, your book will be accepted for sale by bookstores everywhere.<\/p>\n 5: The author gives promotion just a lick and a promise<\/strong>. Authors need to understand that book promotion is ongoing. It should start before you write the book and continue for as long as you want to sell books. <\/p>\n I watched some of our members sell books from the SPAWN booth at the enormous Los Angeles Times Festival of Books a few weekends ago. (That\u2019s Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). Some sat quietly, speaking to visitors only when being spoken to, and they sold a few books. Others engaged visitors enthusiastically, put the books in visitors\u2019 hands, excitedly described their story, asked questions and listened intently, got the potential customers laughing and even took pictures with some of the children holding their books (with parental permission, of course). These authors sold many more copies of their books than did those who just sat quietly.<\/p>\n I share this as a reminder to authors that bookselling is not a passive activity. You must become and remain creatively involved as an enthusiastic agent for your book and constantly reach out to your audience.<\/p>\n 6: The author gives up. <\/strong>I can\u2019t tell you how often I hear, \u201cI can\u2019t sell my book, so what\u2019s the use?\u201d You won\u2019t achieve the level of success you desire if you quit<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot to consider when entering the huge and competitive publishing business. And promotion is a major consideration. Whether you land a traditional royalty publisher, self-publish (establish your own publishing company) or go with a fee-based POD publishing service, it is up to the author to promote his or her book. And the time to start thinking about promotion is before you ever sit down and put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a reminder, Patricia Fry is the executive director of SPAWN. She is also a full-time freelance writer and the author or 33 books (with three more in the works). Several of her books relate to writing and publishing. If you have a book to promote or a book in the works, you must add Patricia\u2019s upcoming book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author<\/em>, to your collection of reference books. You can pre-order it at Amazon.com NOW. It will debut in July of 2011 from Allworth Press\/Skyhorse Publishing.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> Here are more book promotion mistakes that authors make. Do you see yourself in any of these scenarios? 4: The author has unrealistic expectations. Many first-time authors (we\u2019ve all been there) expect to sell their books by the truckloads through mega bookstores. They believe that any good book will be eagerly welcomed by bookstore owners […]<\/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.patriciafry.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"