Some of you have learned this truth already—that research is forever if you are an author. Others are in complete denial about this fact. You’re sick and tired of research—enough, already!
You had to research while writing your fiction, nonfiction or even children’s book. (I spent 5 years researching and writing The Ojai Valley, An Illustrated History.) You were in research mode while trying to find an agent and/or publisher. If you self-published, your research involved how to set up your company, locating a cover designer, understanding the Library of Congress and copyright stuff, etc. Now you just want to sell books, right?
I just finished writing/compiling the monthly SPAWN Market Update, for the member area of the SPAWN website. And my theme for authors with books to promote was RESEARCH and RESOURCES.
I urge you, as authors, to continue searching for the best book promotion opportunities and to explore and experiment to discover what works for your particular project. This takes constant focus and…yes, research. If you were to read an issue or two of the SPAWN Market Update, you would discover several book promotion ideas and resources. If you follow some of the resources, you will surely discover specific opportunities for promoting your book to a new audience in new ways. If you read the SPAWN Market Update as well as, say, the Book Promotion Newsletter, Brian Jud’s newsletter and A Marketing Expert Newsletter, for example, you’ll be exposed to even more ideas and specific resources. Continue visiting my blog OFTEN and others on your RSS feed or Favorites list and you’ll be exposed to even more ideas and resources. This is a good thing!
But, if you don’t take the time to do the work, you will not reap the benefits. If you don’t read the January issue of the SPAWN Market Update, for example, you won’t learn about an easy and effective way to bring more—many more—of your particular readers to your website. And we all know that the more of the right kind of people who visit, the more books you will sell.
By “right kind,” I mean your particular readers—those who seek out books like yours: mysteries, romance novels, works related to PTSD, child sexual abuse, cooking without sugar, etc.
In 2010, contribute to the success of your book by getting back into serious research mode. Start by vowing to read my blog every day. Spend some time at my website (I have some great articles there and a fabulous Resource List). http://www.matilijapress.com.
No matter what stage you are in with your publishing project, order my book today: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html (Thank you to all of those who have been ordering it through Amazon, buy the way—but it is okay to order from my site.)
Join SPAWN and you’ll have access to the Market Update and SPAWNDiscuss, where we have some lively discussions related to writing, publishing and book promotion. Freelance writers are welcome, too. http://www.spawn.org. Join NOW as membership dues go up January 1, 2010. We just did our first teleseminar (for members only) on how to create buzz for your book. We’ll be offering the recording (for members only) at the SPAWN website soon.
And don’t just buy, subscribe and join—also SHOW UP! It does no good to rescue a puppy if you never feed it or show it love. And it will do you no good to buy, subscribe or join if you don’t participate and partake of the offerings.
Questions? Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.
PS This is post number 650!!! Wow!