Yesterday, I received an email from someone who bought a book from me nearly a year ago at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. SPAWN typically has a booth at this huge event. And this woman visited the booth. Not only did she buy my book on publishing, she also picked up some information about SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). Since I met and spoke with her nearly a year ago, she has completed her own book and it is currently with a publisher. Yesterday, she also joined SPAWN.<\/p>\n
Yes, a year later. So many of us, when we attempt to transform ourselves from avid writer with a passion for our topic or story to bookseller (marketing agent, promotions manager), we focus on the immediate sale and neglect to look beyond the moment. We may hear the term exposure. We are told that it takes some people seeing the book seven times before they will actually purchase it. We perceive signings and other events where we sell fewer books than we expected as failures. But I am here to tell you that when we do this, we are peering through a narrow focus\u2014we are not looking at the larger picture. And this can be detrimental to our bookselling experience.<\/p>\n
Recently I drove 300 miles and spoke to a large group of writers. I sold fewer books than I expected that day. But since then, I have had two editing clients from that group and I\u2019ve sold books to some of those who didn\u2019t purchase books that day. I can share numerous similar stories. And if you get out among your readers at all, you are having similar experiences whether you\u2019re aware of it or not.<\/p>\n
Sure, it\u2019s good to have goals. And you should have a marketing plan, good handouts, a succinct spiel. You need to practice some promotional techniques. And, if you want to sell books, you have to put yourself out there\u2014go where your audience is, understand what they want and how they want it presented. You should know how to locate and how to set up opportunities to promote your book to your specific audience. And this is where many authors fail.<\/p>\n
First, they don\u2019t understand that it is their responsibility to promote their own books. Then they don\u2019t know what it takes when they accept this responsibility. <\/p>\n
For new and struggling authors who want or need help getting out and making live appearances, landing radio gigs, talking more successfully to visitors at book festivals and so forth, I highly recommend that you read my latest book, \u201cTalk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.\u201d It\u2019s available now at Amazon.com in print, on Kindle and now on audio. Or purchase it at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yesterday, I received an email from someone who bought a book from me nearly a year ago at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. SPAWN typically has a booth at this huge event. And this woman visited the booth. Not only did she buy my book on publishing, she also picked up some information […]<\/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