Many authors go through the process of writing a book and getting it published, then run into a major roadblock when it comes time to selling it. They don’t know how to find their audience, approach them and make the sale.
Few authors come into the world of publishing with the experience, aptitude or skills for promoting their books. Some of those authors decide to hire someone to help.
There are companies and individuals who offer marketing services. “Self-publishing” companies sell marketing programs to their authors. But in many cases, what the author gets isn’t quite what he or she needs in order to launch them on a lifetime of success. Often, what the author receives from these programs, companies and individuals (if anything) is a temporary boost in sales. What they need is a hand to guide them. It’s the old, “give a man a fish” versus “teach him to fish.”
When I started this blog post this morning, I didn’t intend promoting my books to such a degree. But it occurs to me that these books are designed to teach and educate so that the author can continue to eat fish. Of course, my books are not the only game in town. While they have helped hundreds of people—maybe thousands—over the years, there are other professionals also providing the information, resources and education you need in order to learn to fish so you can sustain your project and yourself forevermore.
Read books on book promotion. Subscribe to newsletters, join organizations, attend conferences. And sure, you can hire someone to do a little hand-holding and guiding along the way if this is part of your comfort zone. You can even hire a publicist or book marketing company to help launch your book. But if you don’t take responsibility for promoting your book yourself and if you don’t realize that book promotion is ongoing for as long as you want your book to sell, you could easily become one of the nearly 78 percent of authors who sell fewer than 100 books total.
Start NOW, wherever you are in the writing, publishing or promoting process and take charge of your project. If you lack skills, confidence, resources or even a platform, start now educating yourself. You won’t get far in this competitive industry without it.
Join SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org
Read my books, “Promote Your Book,” and “Talk Up Your Book.” Available at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and most other online and downtown bookstores. Or order it from me: http://www.matilijapress.com
Subscribe to any number of enewsletters related to book promotion. Mine included: http://www.patriciafry.com