|
Training for Book Authors
|
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book Authors: How To Sell More Books And Get Your Publisher Active
Copyright (c) 2006-2023 Bill Platt
It is an unfortunate reality that most people who write books believe that their publisher will always put their best foot forward, to promote their book. In the real world, it does not quite work that way.
Let me put this in perspective for you.
THE PROFIT-LOSS EQUATION IN BOOK PUBLISHING
It is a financial matter of profits and losses. The book publishing world is much different than what many of us believe it is or that we believe it should be.
The average publisher will only print 1,000 copies of a book. They do this because the average book will sell an average of 400 or 500 copies.
When a publisher takes on a new title, it is a real gamble. Publishers are gambling that the books they take on will generate sales of 1,000 copies, and on rare occasions, they can hope for a book to sell a full 5,000 copies.
The book that sells 100,000 or one million copies is extremely rare.
With more than 100,000 books being printed every year, fewer than one percent of those books will see sales in the range of 5,000 or more copies. Every publisher has hopes that one of the 1,000 books every year that will sell at least 5,000 copies is one of the books sold through their publishing house. These are the books that will help the publisher to make a real profit this year.
One publisher told me that he lets his editors take care of the full book editing and development process. And, he said that he will not even pay attention to the book, until the book sells 5,000 copies. Only then will he consider reading the book himself and cranking up his marketing department to try to sell the book to a wider audience.
So, here it is in a nutshell. If you are a new book author, and you would like to see your book get some serious attention from your publisher and the public, then you need to step up to the plate and promote your book in such a way, as you can ensure that your book will sell 5,000 copies or more.
These days, most publishers will put up single webpages offering each of their books to the public. As a writer of the book, you should not believe that this page will be a well-written, well-optimized page on the internet.
Don't fool yourself... The webpage where your book is offered generally will not get great rankings in the search engines for the keywords relevent to the topic of your book. Additionally, the sales copy will not be set up in such a way as to give much confidence to your potential buyers.
Print book publishers don't do a good job building online promotional materials for a book, until they put their best people on the job. And, the publisher will not put their best people on the job until they believe that they have a winner in their stable.
As a writer, if you want your book to be anything more than a dust-catcher on your own shelf, you need to learn to be a book promoter also.
HOW TO SELL YOUR FIRST 5,000 BOOKS
As a book author, there are three basic steps that you will want to undertake to promote your book online.
1. Set up a domain website,
2. Promote your book with articles,
3. Promote your book with press releases.
In this article, I am going to take a look at how and why you will want to consider each of these steps.
1. SET UP A DOMAIN WEBSITE
Yes, you need a "domain" website. A free page on Geocities.com or Freeservers.com will not instill confidence with your potential customers. Let's face it, the most important marketing consideration for any product or service to be sold on the internet today is to build the "trust factor".
A person, who is being asked to take out their wallet, wants to know that they will get what they have paid for. Free sites cannot be traced to anyone in particular, and commercial websites on the free servers are considered in general to be owned by the fly-by-night outfits on the internet.
We have to give our potential customers the confidence they need to buy products and services from us. And, in order to give our potential customers confidence, we must be willing to spend a few of our own dollars to set up a website.
You can actually register a domain for less than $20 in most cases. Hosting for that domain can be picked up from hundreds of web hosting companies for as little as $10-$20 per month.
On your website, you want to tell readers about your book and why your reader might want to buy your book. On your website, be certain to also ask your reader for the sale, and give them a link where they can buy your book.
Including testimonials and book reviews on your website, will also help you to build interest and trust with your readers.
Sometimes, it can pay dividends to hire a web designer to design the visual template for your website, and to hire a sales copywriter to write your sales copy for the book.
One thing to keep in mind is that not all web designers can write good salescopy, and few copywriters make good web designers.
When you can afford to do so, you should seriously consider hiring a professional to do the tasks necessary to build a nice website and to put good salescopy onto your website. Great web designers will also help you by building your e-commerce system, so that your readers can buy directly from your website.
The professionals do not have to be really expensive. Both can usually be found for a couple hundred dollars. Of course, you could pay more, but you can still find some good people at these rates.
2. PROMOTE YOUR BOOK WITH FREE-REPRINT ARTICLES
Free-Reprint Articles are informational pieces designed to educate the reader about something of interest to the reader.
In an article, your goal is to talk about some topic that is related to the topic of your book. You don't actually want to sell your book inside the body of the article. Instead, you want to use your article to introduce your readers to concepts that might be covered in your book.
When you reach the end of the article, you want to include your About The Author information (often referred to as your Resource Box). Keep your sales material in your Resource Box, but keep in mind that your goal is not to sell your book in your Resource Box. Instead, your goal is to use your Resource Box to get the reader to your website, then use your website to sell your book.
Many people ask if article promotion will work for them. This is what I tell them.
The ability of an article to produce results for you will depend on your article. The internet is still a democracy in that people will make the choice for themselves whether or not they want to use your article.
Some articles get lots of reprints, some do not. The average outcome is about 40-50 backlinks and multiple publications in ezines.
Poor articles still get an average of ten reprints. Exceptional articles generate in excess of thousands of reprints. The results really do rely upon the article.
(One client of mine has one article that generated more than 5,000 reprints in two years time. This same client has written more than 100 articles. He is a well-known article writer and this fact does help his ability to generate more mileage from a single article.)
Just as important as the article itself, is the author resource box. The article is the vehicle to get your resource box seen. A good resource box offers just enough information to inspire the reader to visit your website to learn more about your book. A good resource box also offers a strong call-to-action to get the reader to your website. Let your website do the selling, but use the resource box to get the reader to your website.
Also, you really should consider doing more than one article over a longer period of time. For example, six articles over six months. Each subsequent article puts your name in front of the publishers who will use your articles. Name recognition will help your overall ability for getting published.
3. PROMOTE YOUR BOOK WITH PRESS RELEASES
I always recommend a two-fold approach to any book promotion. 1) reprint articles related to the topic of the book. 2) Press releases distributed through a system such as http://www.prweb.com.
Press releases are different from an article. A good article will have an educational or informational slant to them. A good press release will be designed more as a news story. A good press release has the most noteworthy news in the first paragraph, the second most noteworthy information in the second paragraph, etc.
Additonally, the press release will provide a telephone number for news reporters to contact you for more information concerning your story, so that they can build their own news story from your information.
Although the premise of a press release is so that a reporter can learn enough to build their own news story, you have to remember that their schedule is tight as well. Build your press release in such a way that it can be used as THE news story. Many people will take your press release verbatum for their own use. They might take only the first paragraph, and then they might take the whole thing.
Build your press release with the hope that it will be used in full. Build your press release with the thought that the reporter may only use the first paragraph.
Be prepared to receive phone calls to answer questions about your topic. And, be prepared when no one calls.
I have sent out more than a dozen press releases myself. I have seen those press releases read thousands of times and used hundreds of times. And yet, no one has ever called me for more information.
IN CONCLUSION...
Book promotion should not be viewed as a one-time event. If you take the idea that I will try this once to see if it works, then you might as well save your time and money and not even try at all.
Promotion is an ongoing process. Nothing will happen until you do something. And then you will need to keep doing something to keep open the possibility of something happening to your benefit.
You need to build up a momentum, and then just keep on running.
You are more likely to get published and to sell books if people recognize your name. And, one-time out will not allow anyone to get to know you.
Book authors who can build up a promotional momentum for their book are very likely to find their first 5,000 sales. And as a general rule, once you have crossed that threshold, your publisher will be more than happy to help you to keep that momentum going.
Author's Note: This article was originally published here.
|
You can become a better writer, with the right training. If you are looking to improve your writing skills or learn how to better market your writing projects, visit Bill Platt's website to see how he can help you: http://PlattPublishing.com/ If you are looking to buy or sell writing services, check out Bill's Freelance Writer Marketplace at: http://FreelanceWritersReview.com/
|
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Writing and Speaking Articles || Related Categories: Business Online Articles and Business Offline Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Bill Platt
Four Tips For Creating An Effective Authors' Resource Box
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-08-27 |
Word Count: 1669 |
Page Views: 8142
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 2.50
In article marketing, there are many factors that will
affect your articles' ability to promote your website in
the most effective manner. In this article, we will briefly
discuss a couple those factors, before we dive into how to
create an effective Authors' Resource Box, also known as
the About The Author Information.
Website Traffic Generation: Winning the Love of the Traffic Fairy
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-08-24 |
Word Count: 1149 |
Page Views: 9022
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 1.86
Some people still believe that all they have to do is build
a website and customers will magically appear on their
site... Once they have built their websites, they wait
anxiously for the "Traffic Fairy" to come and sprinkle its
magic dust on their website too, so that they can make lots
of money like other success website owners.
What Kind Of Backlinks Are Best At Helping Your Website In Google?
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-08-21 |
Word Count: 439 |
Page Views: 10081
| Votes: 23 |
Rating: 2.74
I was in the Warrior Forum, and someone asked what kinds of
Backlinks are worth pursuing. This is my answer to that
query.
Understanding the Mechanics of Effective Article Marketing and Article Syndication
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-08-01 |
Word Count: 1399 |
Page Views: 6664
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 1.80
Visit several marketing blogs or marketing forums, and you
will find dozens of people proclaiming the death of article
marketing as an effective marketing tool. Before we start
agreeing with them, consider this...
Top 10 Reasons Why Online Marketers Fail With Article Marketing
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-31 |
Word Count: 1025 |
Page Views: 7932
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 2.08
If you've been marketing products online for any length of
time, you've likely heard people talk about the power and
promise of article marketing for the promotion of your
online business. Unfortunately, many online marketers have
tried to utilize article marketing to benefit their online
business and failed. In this article, I document the top ten
reasons why people fail to find success with article
marketing... And how to fix your article marketing
campaigns...
Article Marketing Tip: Stop Trying To Sell From Within Your Articles
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-30 |
Word Count: 1229 |
Page Views: 6109
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 1.40
The basic premise of article marketing is to present people
information that will be important to them, then at the end
of the article, present information "about the author" and
offer to the reader a means to see how the author can help
the reader further. When done well, article marketing
continues to be one of the most effective methods of
promotion that one could employ online.
The Six Degrees of Internet Marketing
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-30 |
Word Count: 991 |
Page Views: 8536
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.43
The theory behind the Six Degrees of Separation is that all
people on earth can be connected together in as little as
six steps. Now, I know what you might be thinking at this
juncture... That sounds fun and interesting, but what does
that have to do with Internet Marketing? That is a great
question that I am going to answer for you in this
article...
How To Increase Your Rates and Earnings As a Freelance Writer
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-29 |
Word Count: 1191 |
Page Views: 6043
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.55
Freelance writers fill a very important role in today's
business marketplace. They create the on-demand, customized
content that business owners everywhere need to push their
businesses forward. In this article, the author explains
what freelance writers should do to ensure that employers
will pay them well for their services.
The Death and Resurrection of Quality Content
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-25 |
Word Count: 769 |
Page Views: 7693
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 1.85
No matter where you go online, you are bound to find someone
complaining about the quality of content available online.
When we want to find information that answers our questions
for us, the last thing we want to do is to land on a MFA
(Made For Adsense) website with questionable content. And
yet, many of the people who complain about this state of
affairs also contribute to the problem...
Successful Article Marketers Help Readers Solve Problems
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-24 |
Word Count: 816 |
Page Views: 26149
| Votes: 34 |
Rating: 2.79
Every week, I have the opportunity to speak with people about the
benefits and challenges of using article marketing to promote an
online business. Article marketing is about getting your sales
message in front of potential customers and to get links to your
website. Many interpret this to mean that an article should
directly promote a website within the article, but that approach
is wrong and will reduce one's success using this methodology.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Bill Platt Articles
Most Recent "Writing And Speaking" Articles
How To Inspire Yourself To Write Articles Others Will Want To Read
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-16 |
Word Count: 937 |
Page Views: 7241
| Votes: 30 |
Rating: 2.10
Anyone engaged in writing articles for offline publications or
online business has occasionally struggled with the question of
"What to write?" This article documents the methods this writer
uses to find inspiration and processes this writer uses to create
articles people love to read.
Eliminate This Word From Your Ads Now
Written by: Scott Bywater |
Distributed: 2010-01-08 |
Word Count: 244 |
Page Views: 4302
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.80
I'm about to show you a way to make your copy flow better.
And it's probably one of the easiest steps that you could
ever take to improve your copy.
Taming the Monkey Mind
Written by: Rochelle Melander |
Distributed: 2009-07-22 |
Word Count: 630 |
Page Views: 4511
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 1.92
What happens in your brain when you try to write? My clients
report a number of distractions and doubts. Listen in....
Retirement Is the Perfect Time to Fulfill Your Cherished Dream of Writing
Written by: Charles Jacobs |
Distributed: 2009-07-14 |
Word Count: 1105 |
Page Views: 4681
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 1.92
Retirees are particularly qualified to fulfill their dreams of
writing. They can call on years of life and work experience.
Don't succumb to the myth that only a chosen few can see their
words in print. You can do it too, but it is essential to think
your project through and complete the research necessary to
create quality content, whether your choice is fiction or
nonfiction.
Why Write? How Writing Heals
Written by: Rochelle Melander |
Distributed: 2009-07-08 |
Word Count: 820 |
Page Views: 3769
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 2.36
Learn how you can heal your life through journaling.
Resume Writing - Can Software Make A Difference?
Written by: David Alan Carter |
Distributed: 2008-12-18 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5445
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.78
A resume builder (i.e., resume software) is simply an interactive
tool to help you craft your own resume. If you can compose a
straightforward sentence and follow step-by-step instructions,
you can write a professional-looking resume yourself - with help
from a good resume builder. But how do you find a good one?
How to Write Your Book in a Month
Written by: Rochelle Melander |
Distributed: 2008-12-09 |
Word Count: 1122 |
Page Views: 4464
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 2.40
How to complete a writing project in a month.
Seven Simple Strategies for Overcoming Writer's Block RIGHT NOW!
Written by: Rochelle Melander |
Distributed: 2008-11-17 |
Word Count: 1453 |
Page Views: 5080
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 2.45
I used to think that writer's block was just another word for
procrastination. When someone whined about being blocked I
assumed it was because they had ignored the cardinal rule of
writing—in order to get anything done, you've got to put your
butt in the chair and do the time.
Get Instant Credibility!
Written by: Rochelle Melander |
Distributed: 2008-11-13 |
Word Count: 723 |
Page Views: 3934
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.75
Get instant credibility by reading and recommending the work of
great thinkers and writers in your field.
Discover Secrets to Gain Fortunes Eliminating Writer's Block, Forever!
Written by: Dan Lok |
Distributed: 2008-05-22 |
Word Count: 606 |
Page Views: 5162
| Votes: 21 |
Rating: 2.24
Book publishing, information publishing, however it's called. It
can create a wealth of fortune for you. However, what most people
understand about publishing means they have to do something big.
They have to be really knowledgeable about the subject they want
to publish. They had to be real good with writing.
Most Viewed "Writing And Speaking" Articles
How To Inspire Yourself To Write Articles Others Will Want To Read
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-16 |
Word Count: 937 |
Page Views: 7241
| Votes: 30 |
Rating: 2.10
Anyone engaged in writing articles for offline publications or
online business has occasionally struggled with the question of
"What to write?" This article documents the methods this writer
uses to find inspiration and processes this writer uses to create
articles people love to read.
Have You Tried Writing Your Own Biography?
Written by: Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success |
Distributed: 2006-09-29 |
Word Count: 430 |
Page Views: 6977
| Votes: 22 |
Rating: 2.55
I had no idea how difficult it is to be articulate, concise and
yet be informative about key facets of ones life.
John Carlton: The Most Respected Copywriter in the World Wide Web
Written by: Steven Gerber |
Distributed: 2006-12-06 |
Word Count: 582 |
Page Views: 6970
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.22
If you have your own business, then the internet is one of the
most useful tools that you can use today. It can literally
increase your cash flow, and multiply your customer base if you
know how to take advantage of the power of the internet.
Gary Albert: An Account of a Renowned Copywriter
Written by: Steven Gerber |
Distributed: 2006-11-24 |
Word Count: 559 |
Page Views: 6353
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 1.50
In the line of copywriting industry, only a few can be considered
to have effective hands. Not all can write as compelling as those
who have mastered the art because of natural talent and through
experience.
Self-Promotion Writing Tips for Companies
Written by: Tammy M. Ratcliff |
Distributed: 2008-01-08 |
Word Count: 704 |
Page Views: 6008
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.44
One of the best ways for companies to "get their name out
there" is through self-promotion. This is a little different
than straight up advertising and usually more effective.
Web Copywriter: What It Takes To Be One
Written by: Steven Gerber |
Distributed: 2006-11-17 |
Word Count: 586 |
Page Views: 5978
| Votes: 15 |
Rating: 2.60
There are a lot of people who wants to make money in the internet
by being a web copywriter. If you are one of these people who
want to get in to the action of copywriting for profit, you
should know how it's done and how you can be successful in the
field.
Copywriting Selling Secret #2 - 12 Magic Words
Written by: Scott Bywater |
Distributed: 2007-11-21 |
Word Count: 200 |
Page Views: 5566
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.71
You're in for a real treat, because I am going to reveal a dozen
words, which could change your life. Why? Because Yale University
researches have identified the 12 most powerful words in the
human language, proven to attract attention and stir emotion
within their readers.
Improve Your Writing Skills by Reading
Written by: Dindy Robinson |
Distributed: 2006-11-28 |
Word Count: 335 |
Page Views: 5474
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 1.86
If you want to be a good writer, you need to READ. This may seem
self-evident, but you would be amazed at how many writers I talk
to who do not ever read.
Effective Business Writing Tips for Professionals
Written by: Sharif Khan |
Distributed: 2007-11-07 |
Word Count: 974 |
Page Views: 5456
| Votes: 28 |
Rating: 2.21
Learn the art of effective business writing to help increase
sales, improve business communications, win business proposals,
generate new business leads, and develop better business letter
writing and report writing skills.
Resume Writing - Can Software Make A Difference?
Written by: David Alan Carter |
Distributed: 2008-12-18 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5445
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.78
A resume builder (i.e., resume software) is simply an interactive
tool to help you craft your own resume. If you can compose a
straightforward sentence and follow step-by-step instructions,
you can write a professional-looking resume yourself - with help
from a good resume builder. But how do you find a good one?
Highest Ranked "Writing And Speaking" Articles
How to get read on the World Wide Web
Written by: Rick Sloboda |
Distributed: 2007-03-01 |
Word Count: 387 |
Page Views: 4560
| Votes: 23 |
Rating: 3.39
When writing web copy for the all-too-noisy World Wide Web,
nothing is more powerful than simplicity. As a result, your web
copy messages need to be clearly defined and concise.
The Greatest Copywriting Skill And How to Learn It
Written by: Dan Lok |
Distributed: 2007-11-13 |
Word Count: 705 |
Page Views: 5149
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 3.30
The most powerful skill you can have as a copywriter is getting
inside your prospects head and talking to them in their language.
When you do that, and do it well, they'll listen to you. When
you're talking to them about their most pressing problems, their
most dire needs, and deepest desires...in their language...magic
happens.
Are Web Users Dense?
Written by: Rick Sloboda |
Distributed: 2007-03-20 |
Word Count: 313 |
Page Views: 4140
| Votes: 32 |
Rating: 3.28
Clients and students frequently question why website writing
should hover around a grade eight level.
Writing for the Web:Nourish the Spider, Engage the Human
Written by: Rick Sloboda |
Distributed: 2006-11-28 |
Word Count: 421 |
Page Views: 4853
| Votes: 32 |
Rating: 3.16
When you're writing for the Web, you answer to two masters:
humans and spiders. For your website to reach its full potential,
your web writing needs to appeal to the emotional needs of your
target audience as well as the logical needs of search engine
spiders.
Touch Your Prospect's Soul With Empathetic Copywriting
Written by: Dan Lok |
Distributed: 2007-11-06 |
Word Count: 557 |
Page Views: 5114
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 3.08
It has often been said that copywriting is science and art. And
the best copywriters will be the first to tell you it's an
endeavor with a life-long education. You can set your copy apart,
be unique, and find your own personal style by going within.
Forget books for a while.
Principles to Follow in Copy Writing
Written by: Steven Gerber |
Distributed: 2006-11-20 |
Word Count: 561 |
Page Views: 4663
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.89
Children are fond of copying almost anything they see, especially
if it's performed by an adult. Most kids now are familiar with
the computer, and the many features of this amazing thing. But
copying is not always interpreted with its literal meaning.
There's this process which is considered an art in itself that
only well- experienced and dedicated persons can do, and this is
called...
Do Your Readers Wish You Would Stop Writing Articles?
Written by: Jadyn Benjamin |
Distributed: 2007-01-08 |
Word Count: 386 |
Page Views: 4861
| Votes: 20 |
Rating: 2.85
For a lot of us, writing articles can be a chore. Even if you
don't gnaw on your nails in the fear of breaking grammatical
rules, the thought of churning out even one 700+ word article per
week is probably daunting. But is there an alternative that is
easier - and sometimes more effective - that you can use to gain
free exposure from writing without having to write long articles?
Stranger Than Fiction
Written by: Sharif Khan |
Distributed: 2007-02-13 |
Word Count: 854 |
Page Views: 4236
| Votes: 21 |
Rating: 2.81
Inspirational movie review exploring the film Stranger Than
Fiction and the important questions it raises in how we live our
lives.
Resume Writing - Can Software Make A Difference?
Written by: David Alan Carter |
Distributed: 2008-12-18 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5445
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.78
A resume builder (i.e., resume software) is simply an interactive
tool to help you craft your own resume. If you can compose a
straightforward sentence and follow step-by-step instructions,
you can write a professional-looking resume yourself - with help
from a good resume builder. But how do you find a good one?
Copywriting Selling Secret #2 - 12 Magic Words
Written by: Scott Bywater |
Distributed: 2007-11-21 |
Word Count: 200 |
Page Views: 5566
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.71
You're in for a real treat, because I am going to reveal a dozen
words, which could change your life. Why? Because Yale University
researches have identified the 12 most powerful words in the
human language, proven to attract attention and stir emotion
within their readers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|
This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 1871
Total Views: 57681
Article Rating: 3.40 of 5
Votes Cast: 45
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2013-06-27 10:00:00
Internal ID: #2812
|
|
|
Home