Promotions
Part 1
Part 1
Selling
books is a retail business that requires different skills, and these days getting
read by anyone (readers, agents, publishers) involves you figuring out how to
find your audience and gain visibility – AKA marketing and promoting your books.
books is a retail business that requires different skills, and these days getting
read by anyone (readers, agents, publishers) involves you figuring out how to
find your audience and gain visibility – AKA marketing and promoting your books.
The statement above was part of a blog I read by
Russell Blake. And it struck me as being totally realistic.
Russell Blake. And it struck me as being totally realistic.
Most of us are so involved in the creation of the
story that we don’t realize what the aftermath will be–selling it!
story that we don’t realize what the aftermath will be–selling it!
I see so many books sitting in the tullies at #500,000
and higher that must not be selling any copies at all. And I know one thing for
absolutely, positively certain…those authors are not doing any promoting
whatsoever.
and higher that must not be selling any copies at all. And I know one thing for
absolutely, positively certain…those authors are not doing any promoting
whatsoever.
Let’s face it. Every one of us knows that if only
people will read the dog-gone book, it’ll be a big hit. Oprah will be knocking
on the door, movie directors calling…. yeah sure!!
people will read the dog-gone book, it’ll be a big hit. Oprah will be knocking
on the door, movie directors calling…. yeah sure!!
Well, it does happen to a few. Think of a lottery winning! The rest of us have to make
things happen. We have to sell the darn thing. I mean once
your mother, best friend, and family have bought it, you need to get it out
into the world of the reader.
things happen. We have to sell the darn thing. I mean once
your mother, best friend, and family have bought it, you need to get it out
into the world of the reader.
Which means, that these days, any author who wants
to be successful needs to take on another mantle – that of a promoter. And not
just any mediocre promoter. I’m talking about a savvy, budget-minded,
far-reaching salesperson who has their eye on a long term goal and not just a
short-term investment.
to be successful needs to take on another mantle – that of a promoter. And not
just any mediocre promoter. I’m talking about a savvy, budget-minded,
far-reaching salesperson who has their eye on a long term goal and not just a
short-term investment.
Now I don’t know about you, but when I first started
writing my books, I had no idea, intention, notion that I might have to do all
the promoting myself. After all, I had traditionally signed up with The Wild
Rose Press and waited, breath abated, for the royalty checks to show up in my
mailbox…ROFFL! Sorry about the bleep
in the first F!
writing my books, I had no idea, intention, notion that I might have to do all
the promoting myself. After all, I had traditionally signed up with The Wild
Rose Press and waited, breath abated, for the royalty checks to show up in my
mailbox…ROFFL! Sorry about the bleep
in the first F!
Just so you know, after 6 books, I think my largest
royalty, after waiting for 4 months, was $85 or something ridiculous like
that. Not surprising that I had a
decision to make – right?
royalty, after waiting for 4 months, was $85 or something ridiculous like
that. Not surprising that I had a
decision to make – right?
Should I continue to write my lovely romances, no stress, put them out to the publisher
who did all the work, little pressure,
(swallow disappointment over covers I disliked) and then let my babies sink
under the onslaught of the huge number of books on that site…..or???
who did all the work, little pressure,
(swallow disappointment over covers I disliked) and then let my babies sink
under the onslaught of the huge number of books on that site…..or???
Change my future.
I took a long, hard look at what I had
accomplished. I’d written six books for
the Vicarage Bench Series, I was getting stronger as a writer, more knowledgeable
in the business and very, VERY
hungry.
accomplished. I’d written six books for
the Vicarage Bench Series, I was getting stronger as a writer, more knowledgeable
in the business and very, VERY
hungry.
I wanted a piece of that dream that was still
available to those of us who were willing to work hard. I needed to know my
books were being read. It was important for me to be acknowledged. And… I
wanted to make money!! To me, earning a decent living with my product equalled
being a success. And I needed that desperately. Or why go on…?
available to those of us who were willing to work hard. I needed to know my
books were being read. It was important for me to be acknowledged. And… I
wanted to make money!! To me, earning a decent living with my product equalled
being a success. And I needed that desperately. Or why go on…?
Now I know that isn’t everyone’s vision of why they
chose to write books. And if you’re happy to hide away, that’s your
prerogative. But it isn’t mine. I grew
up learning the hard way—that the money you earn reflects the work that you do.
It might be mercenary.
chose to write books. And if you’re happy to hide away, that’s your
prerogative. But it isn’t mine. I grew
up learning the hard way—that the money you earn reflects the work that you do.
It might be mercenary.
Neh! It is what it is!
So… how to start.
Social Media!
These days, if an author expects to get read, he/she
has to not only become adept at marketing, and invest accordingly, he/she must
learn a whole new career in social media as a promoter. There’s a sidebar to
learning about this new venture. Not only do you have to accumulate some
knowledge of what’s available to you in the world of advertising, you must
learn to understand the outcome of your choice.
has to not only become adept at marketing, and invest accordingly, he/she must
learn a whole new career in social media as a promoter. There’s a sidebar to
learning about this new venture. Not only do you have to accumulate some
knowledge of what’s available to you in the world of advertising, you must
learn to understand the outcome of your choice.
And…not only must one become adept at dealing with
your computer’s idiosyncrasies; you have to learn to feel comfortable on
many different promotional sites that will be demanding all kinds of information
from you in order to advertise your book. These sites are also progressing, becoming a lot more expensive and
wanting more in-depth information.
your computer’s idiosyncrasies; you have to learn to feel comfortable on
many different promotional sites that will be demanding all kinds of information
from you in order to advertise your book. These sites are also progressing, becoming a lot more expensive and
wanting more in-depth information.
Okay – I don’t mean to sound discouraging. I just
want you to start this adventure with your eyes open to a realistic future. I’ve read
a lot about what’s coming ahead in our business and some of it’s depressing and
some quite illuminating.
want you to start this adventure with your eyes open to a realistic future. I’ve read
a lot about what’s coming ahead in our business and some of it’s depressing and
some quite illuminating.
But one thing I do know…
More and more, the poorer quality material will disappear
because no matter how well they’re advertised, the reviews will kill their hopes. Truthfully, the
authors who will thrive aren’t necessarily the ones who write the best books. Most likely, they’ll
be those who know how to market them.
because no matter how well they’re advertised, the reviews will kill their hopes. Truthfully, the
authors who will thrive aren’t necessarily the ones who write the best books. Most likely, they’ll
be those who know how to market them.
More hints about selling you as the author in the next blog!
