{"id":1688,"date":"2012-01-27T05:04:49","date_gmt":"2012-01-27T13:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=1688"},"modified":"2012-01-27T05:04:49","modified_gmt":"2012-01-27T13:04:49","slug":"intimacy-can-sell-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=1688","title":{"rendered":"Intimacy Can Sell Books"},"content":{"rendered":"

I thought I\u2019d share something from my book in progress this morning\u2014 Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.<\/em><\/p>\n

It seems that celebrities and well-known authors sell books without even trying. Why? Because they are known\u2014their reputation precedes them. Their fans and curiosity seekers are already familiar with who they are and eager to know more about them. They buy these authors\u2019 books simply on name alone. This is an example of personality selling books. <\/p>\n

You and I are among the nearly seven million less celebrated authors who are competing with one another (as well as the celeb authors) for book sales in the US and beyond. And competition is fierce. Every year around a million new books and ebooks are produced. And every year, thousands upon thousands of those newly published books fail. The latest statistics indicate that just under eighty percent of all books produced each year sell fewer than 100 copies; and their authors wonder why. <\/p>\n

I say it is a lack of personality. Many authors are not willing or able to practice a hands-on approach when it comes to promoting their books. The intimacy the author experiences with his book during the writing process fades once he faces the overwhelming task of marketing it. Yet, you should know that intimacy is at least as important to your project after publication as it was during the writing phase of the book\u2014intimacy with your book and intimacy with your audience. <\/p>\n

The first step toward a relationship with your audience is knowing who they are. You hear publishing experts tell you, and you read in books by professionals, that you must write for a specific target audience. Your audience might be comprised of those who read mysteries, romance or young adult novels. Your book might address avid cooks, other writers, educators, parents of preschoolers, dog owners, pilots or people who are interested in World War I, fitness, home decorating or self-help for adult victims of child abuse. A primary rule of successful authorship is to identify your audience early in the process of writing your book and keep them in mind throughout. When you truly understand who your audience is and concentrate on writing expressly for that audience, not only will your book have a stronger audience base, you will have begun the process of establishing a relationship with each and every one of them. <\/p>\n

Some of you haven\u2019t created this sort of intimacy with your audiences while researching and writing your book. And many of you don\u2019t even know who your audience is. I can tell you this\u2014it is NOT everyone. Not even close. Your book has a target audience and, if you hope to approach them with live presentations, through social media and so forth, you\u2019ll have to discern exactly who they are. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ll include a table of contents in a week or so. Watch for publication of this book in the fall through Allworth Press.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, for books with excellent information, fascinating perspective and useful resources for the author, order your copy of my latest two books today:
\nPromote Your Book<\/em> (Allworth Press, 2011)
\nPublish Your Book<\/em> (Allworth Press, 2012
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a>
\nAnd Amazon.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I thought I\u2019d share something from my book in progress this morning\u2014 Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. It seems that celebrities and well-known authors sell books without even trying. Why? Because they are known\u2014their reputation precedes them. Their fans and curiosity seekers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,11],"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