Hey, you authors, how\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re the sales going? Did you make your sales quota over the holidays? If not, have things picked up since the first of the year? Or is your sales ledger flat-lining? <\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been selling books for over 25 years and I have to say that it has not gotten any easier. I feel as though I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m hand-selling each and every book. I work hard to attract potential readers and then I have to make the sale. I know it is the same for most authors. Heck, a whopping 76 percent of all books in print in 2006 sold fewer than 100 copies. <\/p>\n
Are you in that 76 percent? Would you like to rise above that, make more sales and earn more money? Sure you would. But are you willing to make the sacrifices in order to do so? <\/p>\n
Marketing a book is no simple activity. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not a one-time shot. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an ongoing, all-consuming process which, in order to be successful, will:
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\ttake an enormous amount of your time
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tdrain you of your energy
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\ttest your patience
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tcost you money<\/p>\n
You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard it before: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If you think that writing the book is hard, just wait until you start promoting it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be required to shift quickly from right brain (creative) mode to left brain (business) mode. In order to succeed as a marketing agent for your book, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll probably need to develop the following skills and attributes:
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tself-starter
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tability to schmooze
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tbasic communication skills
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\toutgoing personality
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tpublic speaking skills
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\torganizational skills
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tability to prioritize
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tcreativity
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tresourcefulness
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tinventive spirit
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tthick skin
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\ttons of energy<\/p>\n
If this doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t describe you, and you still want to succeed as a published author, definitely save up enough money to hire a book publicist. However, hiring a book publicist does not mean that you get to go back to your home office and spend your days writing. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll still be required to go where your publicist sends you to speak before groups, chat with TV personalities on screen (Martha Stewart, perhaps, the girls on the View or even Oprah), do radio interviews, etc.<\/p>\n
I interviewed book publicist Kate Bandos for the March issue of the SPAWN Market Update<\/em>. This issue will appear in the member area of the SPAWN website around the first of March. The SPAWN Market Update <\/em>is all about book promotion ideas, resources, links and opportunities for authors, freelance writers, screen writers and artists. The March issue includes access to nearly 1,000 links through some amazing directories for authors and freelance writers. We tell writers, authors and artists that each issue of the SPAWN Market Update <\/em>contains opportunities that will either pay or save members many times over the cost of membership in SPAWN ($45\/year). AND members also have access to the SPAWN Market Update archives\u00e2\u20ac\u201da treasure trove of information, resources, links and MORE.<\/p>\n If you have a book to promote or you soon will, prepare yourself. Read the 3 chapters (70 pages) on book promotion in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book <\/em> http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a>, join SPAWN and study each and every issue of the SPAWN Market Update <\/em> http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a> and follow this blog faithfully. <\/p>\n If you need specialized, personalized help with your book promotion project, sign up for my NEW online book promotion course at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_bookpromotion.htm<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hey, you authors, how\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re the sales going? Did you make your sales quota over the holidays? If not, have things picked up since the first of the year? Or is your sales ledger flat-lining? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been selling books for over 25 years and I have to say that it has not gotten any easier. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","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