How many times have you worked hard on a promotional piece for your amazing book, only to have a recipient slam you back with his promotion? Perhaps you’ve made it a habit to respond to someone else’s book announcement with your own promotional blast. Not nice, in my opinion, and kind of a slap in the face, don’t you think?
Okay, here’s my take on this. We’re all working hard to have our books noticed. Those of you who’ve stepped into the shark-infested waters of publishing know that it’s not an easy swim. It’s a lot of work keeping sales up, maintaining an interest in your book, getting word out to new readers. In fact, it’s a rather constant activity. Keep in mind that other authors are going through pretty much the same struggles you are.
Most of us don’t enter into the big book promotion race with a marketing background. Many authors are downright timid, embarrassed, and even repulsed by the necessity of promotion. Others are so gung-ho they even step outside the bounds of courtesy.
Are you’re one of those (and I’ve met several) who, when you receive a new book announcement or other promotional piece, you immediately return the “favor” in the form of your own promotional material? Why not first acknowledge the sender? If you have the time and incentive to send something, why not make it generous—“Hey, congrats on your new book (accomplishment, award, milestone, etc.).” Maybe establish a dialog with the other author, “Love your title.” “Who did your cover?” “What’s been your best promotional ploy?” THEN, if you must, promote your book back. It’s okay, in my opinion, it’s just that I’d like to see a little more give as well as take—a tad of finesse—a more gracious approach. Wouldn’t you?
Yesterday, many of you received my promo piece announcing my 50th published book and the 10th in the Klepto Cat Mystery series.
PAWtners in Crime is now ready for your Kindle. Order it here: http://www.amazon.com/PAWtners-Crime-Klepto-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B00WFSE646/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429620489&sr=1-11&keywords=patricia+fry+klepto+cat
Catnapped, the first in the Klepto Cat Mystery series is FREE April 22- 24, 2015. These Kindle books are selling at a rate of one- to three-thousand copies per month. Get your FREE Kindle copy of book number one—Catnapped—and find out what all the excitement is about. http://www.amazon.com/Catnapped-Klepto-Cat-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B00DAHFS1G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1429622111&sr=8-4&keywords=catnapped