Thanks to all of you who gave me great suggestions for the author event in Salt Lake. There were about 100 authors there. Some we knew, but most we didn't. We had a great time talking about books, great books, and really great books and what it take to write them, publish them, and sell them.
I don't think there is anything I love talking about more. I really want to answer your comments later in the week, but I thought I'd give you a short list of books I'm coming up with to learn about book promotion.
For many years I've suggested three mainstays: 1001 Ways to Market your Books by John Kremer. John as been at it a long time and he keeps his book updated. It is now in its sixth edition. The most practical book I've read is Jump Start your Book Sales by Tom and Marilyn Ross. The suggestions it has are the ones you're most likely to get done. The third one is Guerilla Marketing for Writers by Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman and Michael Larsen. Of course, Rick is the book guy of the bunch.
I've added a few more lately that I think you'll get a lot from: The Complete Guide to Book Publicity by Jodee Blanco. She was heavy into PR and can give you good tips. The book was written in 2004, but is now in its second edition. Three more on our shelves are The making of a Bestseller, Hill and Power; The complete Guide to Book Marketing by Cole; and The Savvy Authors Guide to Book Publicity, by Carroll & Graf.
As I was looking down the list of book publicity bestsellers on Amazon this morning I saw a few more I think we'll order today: The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Many of you know her. She's from here in our neck of the woods.
With the ever-developing internet, we need to stay up with the following books: Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing, by Steve Weber; Guerilla Marketing on the Internet by Jay Conrad Levinson, et al; The New Influencers by Paul Gillin; and Marketing to the Social Web, by Larry Weber.
One more I'm going to throw in is Word of Mouth Marketing—How Smart Companies Get People Talking.
I'd love to know if any have read any of these books and have done reviews. I'll post reviews as I plow through them.
Thanks again for such great suggestions for last week and happy reading. As always, please comment so I know if I'm doing any good. In the end it is really only writers who truly make a difference. I'll post again on Wednesday to answer your questions.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Frugal Book Promoter: How to do What Your Publisher Won’t
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
ISBN:193299310X, 2004
Non-Fiction: Writers, Marketing, Promoting, and Publishing
Publisher: Star Publishing; $17.95
Publisher site: www.starpublishing.com
Review Date: August 26, 2007
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a gifted and award-winning author helps writers take the first step forward with their book by giving abounding encouragement and creative ideas that work in The Frugal Book Promoter: How to do What Your Publisher Won’t.
Howard-Johnson shows writers how frugal promotion works by using your author name, personal experiences, signature and resources to advance their creative works into the world of commerce. One of the most useful ideas I found not far into the book was the importance of branding and taglines. As a new author it did not take me long to figure out how to be successful in using these ideas.
There is no beating around the bush by Howard-Johnson about the fact that promoting one’s own book does not have to be expensive or time consuming; however, there is no such thing as effortless, free marketing or book promoting. A light bulb moment came when she introduced the concept that an author is not promoting their book so much as they are using their personal expert knowledge that relates to their book and lets the consumer know how important the book is and why. Some call it self-promoting, Howard-Johnson calls it sharing useful ideas with the consumer. If people learn through idea sharing that the book will meet their need, they are more likely to buy your book. To put this idea to the test, I began to let contacts know that I was available to discuss or speak about how to help children deal with grief. At my first presentation, my book, Flying Hugs and Kisses sold out.
Howard’s book is truly an author’s resource center at his or her fingertips, even for the writer who believes it is too late to generate interest in their book. Carolyn Howard-Johnson has great ideas for getting that book out of a slump too.
Reviewer recommends this book for any who loves to write. It would also serve as a great educational resource for publishers, learning institutions and libraries.
Reviewed by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses (2006), also translated: Besos y abrazos al aire (2006, Spanish edition) and Flying Hugs and Kisses Activity Book (2007). To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.
I have read a couple of those books. some of the suggestions are better suited to non-fiction books, but I found some helpful information in those I've read.
I think creating a web presence and blogging are both important in today's market to help promote our books.
I think it's great that you post here. It's helpful to all of us.
I just read your blog and appreciate the helpful suggestions. I think I have some intense reading ahead of me
Post a Comment