I’m going to say it (write it) again, personality sells books. More than ever, readers want a relationship with their authors. We are exposed to books for sale everywhere we go, online, a variety of specialty stores downtown and in the emails we receive. There’s a lot of competition for authors. Those of you with published books have discovered this already. Those still working on books will soon find it out. So how do you entice people to buy your book instead of the others? What moves readers to purchase books? In some cases, the author. By this, I mean the author’s presence.
Think about the books you’ve bought most recently. What caused you to buy them? I bought one last night because an author I know whose mysteries I enjoy reading sent me an email telling me about her new mystery coming out in a few weeks. I ordered the ebook for my Kindle. My most recent book purchase before that was at an author event. I bought a book from an author I met there. I listened to her speak, liked hearing her story, liked her and was intrigued by the topic of her book.
I often meet hopeful authors who tell me that they aren’t comfortable going out and talking to the public. They don’t want to do public speaking or give workshops. They’d rather do their book promotion using the Internet. Sure there are many ways to bring attention to your book from the confines of your home office. But you’ll sell more copies if you get out and meet your audience. Speak at a local Kiwanis club meeting and you’ll sell five or a dozen copies of your book that you wouldn’t have sold if you’d stayed home. Speak to your specific audience at a conference and sell even more copies. Give workshops related to the theme of your nonfiction book and require that students purchase your book. Rent a booth at local book festivals and flea markets and meet members of your audience.
Yes, if you have a book of interest to the audience you are facing, you will sell books on the spot. But your effort will have an even greater effect on book sales for this and future books. Think about it—you may have sold books to 10 percent of audience members at an event, but the other 90 percent now know also about you, right? Some of them will buy your book later. They may tell others about you and your book.
Not only that, the publicity leading up to and after the event will put your name and the title of your book before hundreds (or thousands) more people. And exposure is worth volumes when it comes to selling books in this competitive publishing climate.
If you plan to go out and speak, attend book festivals, do podcasts/webinars, conduct workshops at appropriate conferences and so forth, I recommend that you read my latest book. I wrote it just for you. It’s Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Books Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.
I also wrote this book for those of you who are uncomfortable speaking in front of an audience, who don’t know how to go about locating or setting up presentation opportunities, who would like help writing and effectively presenting a speech or workshop or participating in a successful book festival experience. If you are hesitant to even think about going public, you really need to read this book. Yes, it provides some great suggestions and tips for you, too—from some other authors who were once in your shoes.
Order this one-of-a-kind book, Talk Up Your Book at Amazon.com and other online and downtown booksellers. Or order it from my own website: http://www.matilijapress.com
Kindle version coming soon.
Either purchase this book from me or forward your order from Amazon, etc. showing that you purchased it and I will send you a FREE copy of your choice of books (below) as a gift. (US addresses only.) PLFry620@yahoo.com
“75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book”
“Creative Grandparenting Across the Miles”
“A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles”
“Quest For Truth”
Send your proof of purchase and book request here: PLFry620@yahoo.com
Offer expires December 31, 2012