I\u2019d like to return to our book promotion theme today because I think it is so important. It is also a concept that is misunderstood and an activity that is often neglected by many authors.<\/p>\n
How many of you reading this blog today are in denial about the need to really get out there and promote your book? If you\u2019ve been a published author for any length of time, you totally get the concept of book promotion. You may not like it and you may not want to do it, but you are, at least, beginning to get it. How do you know that it is important? Because when you don\u2019t do it, your book doesn\u2019t sell, right?<\/p>\n
If you are still working on your book, it\u2019s obvious that you are also studying the publishing industry, which I urge all authors to do\u2014otherwise, you wouldn\u2019t be reading this blog post. But have you embraced the concept of book promotion and committed to it? Are you planning your marketing strategies? Are you building on your platform? If not, you are surely sabotaging the success of that book you have worked so hard on. <\/p>\n
Here are the three main things that get in the author\u2019s way of success:<\/p>\n
1: The author doesn\u2019t believe that promotion is necessary. She says, \u201cI don\u2019t need to promote my book. It will sell itself.\u201d Or, \u201cI\u2019m going to get it into the bookstores right away. People will find it there.\u201d Or \u201cI only want to make $20,000 this year, so I probably don\u2019t have to do much promotion. I already know a lot of people who said they would buy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Authors soon find out that they cannot rely on bookstores for sales unless they\u2019re doing a lot of promotion and bringing hundreds of people in to purchase it. They also learn early on that they truly don\u2019t have as many friends to purchase the book as they hoped for, and the only time the book is selling is when they are putting effort into promotion.<\/p>\n
2: The author plans to promote only during the first few months after publication. 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
3: The author gives up. 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
Order your copy of Patricia Fry\u2019s new book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author<\/em>. Read some of the 18 reviews at the book\u2019s page at Amazon.com<\/p>\n