The Book Marketing Network

For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

I'd like to start a new forum where people can talk about what's working for you right now in marketing your book.

I think this will help other authors to prioritize their activities if they can find out what's working for other people. This would be especially valuable to new authors.

I've share the hottest tool that I'm using right now. And that's Twitter. As you will note on the main page of this Book Marketing Network website, both my http://www.bookmarket.com website and this network have been rising in Alexa ranks (and visits) because of my use of Twitter.

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Alberta,

Thanks for the specifics! I heard someone suggest that in certain settings, it's good to hand out a book to each person to look over during the talk.

I did this when I spoke at a library event, of about 30 people, primarily adults 35 and older, and it seemed that I sold a lot more than normal. Not only do they get to browse the table of contents and get a good feel for the book, but they either have to hand it back to you or purchase it. I didn't have any incident of anyone roughing up a copy or walking out with one. (Of course, I reminded them at the end to either pay for their copy or return it.)

Perhaps it's harder for people to give up something that's already in their hands than to leave without purchasing something they never handled.
I'll give you another pitch that worked great for me. I did a book signing in this tiny bookstore with a coffee shop. Very quaint. They had about 4-5 tables and a counter facing a large window with bar seats.

I put one of each of my memoirs on their table with reviews. When someone or a group sat down, I went over to them with my business card and said, "I won't bother you long because I know your ready to enjoy your lunch. I'm Alberta and I'm the author book signing today. Here's my business card if you don't have time to look at it."

I noticed everyone going through the pages while they had their coffee and lunch. I sold 11 books that day with a small amount of traffic.

I was happy. I made sure I watched so no one would walk out with one.
Thanks for the kind comments about my book.

Speaking is a great way to market your book. You will create tons of fans. They will tell others. Sometimes that kind of word-of-mouth takes awhile to take hold and generate sales far beyond the speaking event.

John Kremer, author, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books
Hi John,

You deserve kind words because you have wonderful and creative ideas for authors. I honestly want to read all your pages. It's so hard getting the time to read. I don't know whether to write, promote or market my books, answer emails or get involved with the authors forums when I get up. I can spend a whole day at this computer, which caused me to have neck problems for months. My husband has been patient but authors can over-due the time limit being married. I try to balance writing and devoting time with my relationship.

I needed to hear you say that it takes awhile to generate sales with speaking events. I get so exhausted and get down if only 2-6 books sell.

My sample book sequel Please, God, Not Two; This Killer Called Alcoholism is due to arrive by Tuesday. I'll have one more time to read for mistakes and it's off to Infinity Publishing for the final print. It's about losing my daughter to alcohol abuse after her dad died from it.

That's when I'm going to push talks. I went on Google to receive news articles on substance abuse. I'm trying to email or mail out media kits to the organizations writing the articles.

Last week, I read how the Fort Worth, TX Police Department is trying to put a program together for substance abuse because of the officers having serious problems with it. So I jumped on it and sent a media kit with an introduction, my bio, where they can get a "free" book to review, reviews of the book and their awards. I told them of my talks at halfway homes, rehabs, etc. I gave a suggestion to use it in their training class or meeting for discussions. I gave them the discounts that the publisher would give them. That's why I love Infinity.

I then did the same to the alcoholic rehabs, even in Hawaii, offering my books as a group discussion.

This is a new marketing plan for me so I can't say how it's working or is going to yet. I'm "hoping" this is a way to reach out-of-state substance abuse organizations that I can't travel to and maybe get involved in a small way.

My mother always said, "The worse anyone can do is say no!"

I'm looking forward to finishing your book, John. Great book!
Albert,

Replying to your comment a couple above, thanks again for the specifics. Lots of people speak of doing signings, but I think it's remarkable how doing a few specific things differently can mean the difference between meager sales and great sales.
Thanks for the info.. much needed!
John,

About a month ago, I started contacting the top (Alexa rankings, etc.) 200 personal finance blogs about reviewing my personal finance book and/or hosting a giveaway. Leading up to graduation season, I felt that this would make a timely post for them to recommend the book as a graduation gift. 45 bloggers requested copies and have committed to do reviews. One of the first reviews came out today and it's instructive to see how this blogger has arranged the giveaway so that those who enter are given incentives to tweet about the giveaway and get the word out in other ways.

Here's the review and giveaway specifics.

http://inexpensively.com/articles/finance/debt-management/enjoy-you...

It's easy to see how this can lead to sales, since it's not me writing about myself, but the blogger herself recommending it, and her followers getting the word out ("Let another praise you and not you yourself" - Solomon).

Anyway, I'll try to keep you up with the progress of this campaign and the results. I can check my Amazon rank and sales on a daily basis, to see the actual impact on sales.

J. Steve Miller
President, Legacy Educational Resources
Author of Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It
"The money book for people who hate money books."
http://wisdomcreekpress.com/press_kits.html
Fantastic idea and tremendous response! Way to be, Steve! Congrats.
A great review. I didn't realize that your book was a non-fiction story. Have you thought about meeting with the schools? You can offer it as a class project or homework assignment and then you can come in to talk.
Alberta,

Yes, I wrote it with schools in mind, including discussion questions and assignments between chapters. I also have some free web-based resources for teachers who want to use it in class. But so far, I haven't had success getting it into classrooms. For one thing, budgets are severely cut and they're not buying much new curriculum.

But I think getting it into schools will be a long-term project. You've got to have one influential teacher use it successfully and then rave about it. This summer, I'm gonna try to promote it among home schoolers, who are often more open to non-traditional texts.

And I think what you're saying is that I could do sort of one time talks in classes or schools. I've got a high school principal on my board that I'm gonna talk to about some of those ideas this summer. Hope something comes out of it. Thanks for suggesting this. I have so many ideas swirling about in my head that it's often hard to decide what to try next.

J. Steve Miller
President, Legacy Educational Resources
Author of Enjoy Your Money! How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It
"The money book for people who hate money books."
http://wisdomcreekpress.com/press_kits.html
Okay, I'm the student and I need a teacher. I'm on Facebook, Twitter and Linkin. How do I advertise myself and my memoirs on alcoholism to others besides the location where I fill in my history? All I'm getting back are replies from family and friends.

Do I have to pay more to reach people with the same interest?

Alberta

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