Really, don't think of marketing your book as being hard.
After all, there is a gazillion books on the subject all of them have some tried and tested methods of reaching audiences and selling your book.
Oh, it is challenging but more than that, marketing is repetitive. One of the best ways to market anything-without a lot of resources-is building relationships with people. Talking to people about your book.
Book Marketing is kind of like stippling-that technique in art that uses dots to form an image. If you've ever stippled as an art project, you know it can be repetitive and tedious.
It takes time, effort and energy to keep the multitude of social media updated, to make connections and network. This tediousness and repetitiveness can lead to a desperation.
Desperation, I believe causes people who I am sure most of the time are wonderful to do some pretty, well desperate things.
This week, I've had an offer to buy my contact list!, a demand for me to publicize an event as my contacts would be..ah useful to them, request for help-if I could give marketing suggestions beyond what was on the blog-suggested the first three things that came to mind and never heard back.
When you are marketing your book, be polite. Don't send emails that are blank with only attachments. If you are sending an email to someone you genuinely think might be interested in your book, start with a "hello".
People will always remember rudeness.
Keep on putting down those dots-eventually they form an image, a successful image.
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Back when I used to be actively marketing books, I would always think of it as, telling a story.
ReplyDeleteWhomever I talked with about the book, I would think of it as an introduction.
Which always started with, "Hello. I know you from and I think you would like this book because"
I think authors make silly marketing mistakes because they treat books as special. Something that is outside of standard business practices.
Thanks for sharing this list, it is helpful as it brought to mind some of the mistakes that are similar that I made when I was first starting out.
I also love the week round up email!
Please keep sending out!
Think you're absolutely right about word-of-mouth marketing. No matter how much my husband and I have advertised businesses and products, this has always been the best avenue. That's why kindness, approachability, and common sense pays off in the end. :D
ReplyDelete-Kaylin
I am appalled at the lack of manners that exist today. If I email someone and they respond -- even if I wasn't happy with the response, I still have the courtesy of emailing them back and thanking them for the information. I may or may not use that information, but if someone went to the trouble to share that information with me, I will thank them for the time they invested.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you were treated shabbily this week. Please know that there are still quite a few of us who DO appreciate the work you put into this site.
@Heather, As long as I receive no more than ten complaints, I'll keep sending the roundup list out.
ReplyDelete@Kayin, Thanks for sharing your experience! And words of wisdom.
@Author, Honestly, it was just a typical week. I think coming across stuff like this is part of running a Blog, such as APA is and most of a time, its a great joy to do so.
I just wanted to use those instances as examples..sort of a "what not to do".
Thanks for the kind words! A lot of the time 'tis what keeps me and APA going strong!
Just found your site and find your insight immensely helpful and thought provoking! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh and I find it soooo hard to market my own material - but you've inspired me to keep at it!
@Johanna Thank you for the kind words!
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