Are you promoting a book? Are your efforts being rewarded? When is the last time you did an Internet search to check on the whereabouts of your book promo? Do you subscribe to Google Alerts? If you do and if you use keywords related to the title of your book, you will be alerted every time the title appears anywhere on the Internet. But it isn\u2019t going to show up if you aren\u2019t promoting it.<\/p>\n
Yes, it is time-consuming and it can be all-consuming to spread the word about your book. Just consider it a job that\u2019s necessary if you want your book to actually sell and be read. Isn\u2019t that your goal? And you are the only one who can make that happen. Sure, there are certainly others out there to help you\u2014folks who will review your book, interview you at their blog sites, post or publish your article or comments, for example. But you have to seek them out, contact them, make the suggestion and, often, follow-up and follow through.<\/p>\n
Book reviewers are seeking good books to review. Bloggers want copy for their sites. Editors need articles and stories. They are all waiting for you to provide them with what they can use.<\/p>\n
As you know, I\u2019ve been promoting my latest book, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>. And the book is getting quite a bit of attention in blogs, newsletters and at websites related to cats and writing. For those who are new to this blog, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats <\/em><\/strong>is my new book of mostly true cat stories. Check out Gerald Schiffhorst\u2019s blog dated Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at http:\/\/mindfulwriting.blogspot.com<\/a> <\/p>\n There\u2019s a post at Writers and Editors website in the member announcement area: Barbara Florio Graham over at Simon Teakettle, has included Catscapades<\/em> on her recommended cat reading page As I already mentioned in previous blogs, the Cat Lady in Seattle reviewed the book as did the folks at All Cute Cats. And I\u2019ve posted announcements at the ASPCA pet blot, Thoughts Fur Paws, The Cat Site, The Cat Coach, Pet Side, Amazing Felines, Cat Lovers Only and other places. In fact, word of Catscapades<\/em> is in places on the web that I\u2019ve never heard of. This is what happens when you start promoting a book in earnest. It\u2019s like a small bud that, once it is exposed to the elements, it blossoms into a large, beautiful flower. And that flower spews seeds everywhere. It\u2019s true.<\/p>\n And I can also tell you that that flower is a bit sluggish these days. It isn\u2019t opening as quickly and completely in this economic climate. It\u2019s taking a lot more energy and time, research and follow-up, and overall creativity to appropriately promote a book. Some authors are giving up\u2014throwing in the towel. Others have been side-tracked by the extra demands of their day jobs. But many of us are still out there pushing ourselves to the limits as we attempt to locate those members of our target audiences who truly desire and need the books we so lovingly offer.<\/p>\n Any essence of glamour that remained in this profession, I believe, is gone. The numbers have helped to dim the bright lights of honor as an author. Authorship is no longer a rare privilege. In America, we mass produce authors and then throw them to the wolves. When these carnivores are finished with them, the sharks move in. And most authors today fail. The last figure I found said that 76% of authors sell fewer than 100 books in a year.<\/p>\n Do you know what a sign spinner is? This is someone who stands on a corner with a, usually, large sign, which he waves, tips, bounces and spins in an attempt to attract attention for his company. Sometimes, you\u2019ll see sign spinners on every corner. Some are just standing there moving the sign from side to side while others are dancing and jumping around as they twirl the sign in the air. Who is going to get the most attention? Certainly, the most active sign spinner. And this is the way of book promotion. Those of us who are most active in locating outlets and other opportunities for our books, who continually come up with new ideas for promoting them, who keep studying, researching and pushing, will experience greater success.<\/p>\n So what are you going to do this week to promote your book? I’d like to know.<\/p>\n If you need help, sign up today for my book promotion course. My book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book <\/em><\/strong>includes 3 chapters on book promotion. Order it today at: Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and stay on top of your book promotion game. And for fun and smiles\u2014curl up with a copy of Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats<\/em><\/strong>. Order the print (comb-bound) copy or the ebook. Are you promoting a book? Are your efforts being rewarded? When is the last time you did an Internet search to check on the whereabouts of your book promo? Do you subscribe to Google Alerts? If you do and if you use keywords related to the title of your book, you will be alerted every […]<\/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.writers-editors.com\/Need_a_writer_\/Member_News\/member_news.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.simonteakettle.com\/rescats.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_bookpromotion.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a>
\nI write the SPAWN Market Update for the member area of the SPAWN website and I always focus heavily on book promotion opportunities and resources. <\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades.html<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"