I’d like to return to our book promotion theme today because I think it is so important. It is also a concept that is misunderstood and an activity that is often neglected by many authors.
How many of you reading this blog today are in denial about the need to really get out there and promote your book? If you’ve been a published author for any length of time, you totally get the concept of book promotion. You may not like it and you may not want to do it, but you are, at least, beginning to get it. How do you know that it is important? Because when you don’t do it, your book doesn’t sell, right?
If you are still working on your book, it’s obvious that you are also studying the publishing industry, which I urge all authors to do—otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this blog post. But have you embraced the concept of book promotion and committed to it? Are you planning your marketing strategies? Are you building on your platform? If not, you are surely sabotaging the success of that book you have worked so hard on.
Here are the three main things that get in the author’s way of success:
1: The author doesn’t believe that promotion is necessary. She says, “I don’t need to promote my book. It will sell itself.” Or, “I’m going to get it into the bookstores right away. People will find it there.” Or “I only want to make $20,000 this year, so I probably don’t have to do much promotion. I already know a lot of people who said they would buy it.”
Authors soon find out that they cannot rely on bookstores for sales unless they’re doing a lot of promotion and bringing hundreds of people in to purchase it. They also learn early on that they truly don’t have as many friends to purchase the book as they hoped for, and the only time the book is selling is when they are putting effort into promotion.
2: The author plans to promote only during the first few months after publication. Authors need to understand that book promotion is ongoing. It should start before you write the book and continue for as long as you want to sell books.
3: The author gives up. I can’t tell you how often I hear, “I can’t sell my book, so what’s the use?” You won’t achieve the level of success you desire if you quit
There’s a lot to consider when entering the huge and competitive publishing business. And promotion is a major consideration. Whether you land a traditional royalty publisher, self-publish (establish your own publishing company) or go with a fee-based POD publishing service, it is up to the author to promote his or her book. And the time to start thinking about promotion is before you ever sit down and put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.
Order your copy of Patricia Fry’s new book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. Read some of the 18 reviews at the book’s page at Amazon.com
I’m still in Alaska at the Anchorage Writer’s Guild Conference. My presentation yesterday went quite well. During the afternoon, I met with authors and did some manuscript evaluations. Last night, I was one of 6 panelists who responded to author questions on a variety of topics. The panelists joining me were 2 agents, a publisher a novelist/screenplay writer and a magazine editor. It was interesting to hear the various responses from these professionals. I agreed with most, but not all of the responses from the others. And I appreciated hearing some of the responses representing the inside view of some aspects of publishing that few of us are privy to.
I did two author consultations this morning and after lunch I will give the closing speech and then participate in another panel discussion. My books are selling like crazy here.
Love your blog and LOVED meeting you this weekend at the AWG Conference. So much info you gave to all of us. Thanks for coming up all this way and hope you’ll be back next year!