Does your traditional publisher expect you to promote your book? Do the submission guidelines from your publisher of choice specify that the author is responsible for promoting his/her book? If not, you might consider running the other way.
Publishers who don’t request help promoting their books, may not be in business long—that is, if they’ve been relying on bookstores for sales. The ground that bookstores are built on is getting shaky. The demise of so many bookstores in the last few years and rumors that more will follow is shaking up the traditional publishing paradigm. While staid, rigid publishers may fall by the wayside, this shift is sparking forward-thinking publishers into action of a different type. They will be seeking new outlets for their books and new ways to promote and sell books on and off line.
Some publishers might transition into a new dimension with their titles—accepting books in genres/on topics they can promote best. Publishers will become more web savvy.
Book tours, if they still exist, will have a different flavor. They might be held in kitchen stores, department stores, at mall kiosks, in movie theater lobbies, at flea markets, in sporting goods stores, etc., depending on the book topic. Enterprising publishers will start doing what authors have been doing for decades. They will begin thinking along more creative veins with regard to their promotional activities. Instead of expecting the audiences for their books to come to the bookstore, they will have their authors go where their audiences are.
As authors, we’ve been stretching and stepping outside the box with innovative promotional ideas and we’ve been going out of our way, at times, to get exposure for our books. Publishers, who want to remain in business, will have to get on the same page with their more creative, enterprising authors if they want to stay in business.
Do you see where this is going? With the demise of major bookstores, publishers will be even more interested in the author with the best marketing ideas and proof that he/she can/will implement them. My advice to you?
• Write the book you can promote.
• Early on, begin to establish your platform and continue building on it.
• Start executing some of your promotional ideas to test them out—this might include presenting workshops in your books’ topic, for example.
• Become known within your genre/topic before you come out with your book. How? Submit stories/articles to numerous magazines, establish a strong Internet presence, align yourself with professionals in your field/genre.
This might be a good time for you to sign up for my online, on-demand book promotion course in order to begin to understand what book promotion is all about and to determine how you can
best create your marketing plan. http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookpromotion.htm
Visit my newest website: http://www.patriciafry.com
The website listed is my business here in Neah Bay, WA
I was looking for the next steps … in getting my manuscript turned into a book, when I found your book “The right way to write, publish, and sell your book”
I noticed that you are “researching” the new era that is coming into affect and promoting your book might change?
I have NEVER written a book before and need all the help I can find, do you still recomment to your audience to still purchase your latest book?
Thanks and good luck with your business…it is fun! But I know that I am just a new comer and will not find it so fun soon..smile.
You have a great day.
From, Dawn