18 Feb 2008 04:53:16 | Judy Cullins
Have you wasted valuable time and money on book promotion that
doesn't work? Have your press releases been ignored? Have you
been too quiet about getting the word out how your book will
help solve people's problems?
Passion and creativity went into your book, now it's time to put
passion and creativity into promoting it! Since no one really
cares as much about your book as you do, then take time to learn
this new, effective way to sell books.
Know that the world wide Web audience wants and needs your
information your expertise, how-to's, your experience or
entertainment.
If you are willing to take four-five actions each day to promote
your products, you will have successful sales. Follow these
steps to learn how to promote your book on line and make big
sales:
Step One.
Do what you do best--write! Create several short "how-to"
articles, short stories, poetry or humor, anywhere from 75-1200
words.
Prepare several lengths of the same article. For one eMagazine I
submitted a seventy-five-word article on how to write a short
article. For a top business Web site, I expanded it to 900
words. For some, I only submit 400-500 word articles.
Take responsibility for book promotion yourself. If your
publisher's sales disappoint you, your own marketing weak, you
can still create ongoing, lifelong profits.
Online promotion is great if you are totally bashful or
reluctant to "sell." You don't have to talk to anyone in person.
You promote straight from your home or office.
Now, that's convenience! Learn the basics from teleclasses and
seminars, an Online Promotion Coach, the internet, and
professional networking organizations.
Step Three.
Develop Internet savvy. When you don't take this step, you will
hang back, and stay stuck in fear. Action spurs you on.
Take a free community college course, or visit your library for
help. In just three hours, I learned about search engines, and
other basics.
If you are like me and are passionate to succeed, then hire a
coach or virtual assistant from a local high school or tech
school to move you forward much faster.
Jump in and get yourself an email address and try out surfing.
You won't need a Web site right away, but authors should
eventually have one.
Step Four.
Visit the top Web sites in your field. Without them, your book
won't get much exposure. Many authors report only a few sales
from their own sites.
High traffic web sites are always looking for new material (your
articles) to entice their visitors to come back, again and
again. Their ezines reach from 2000 to 500,000 each issue!
That's great free exposure for you. Notice their signals: "New
material added daily."
In turn, they will put your "signature" which includes the title
of your book and the Web address where it can be purchased.
It doesn't have to be your Web site. With just one short article
posted in a ezine, one bookcoaching client received eight emails
asking for more information.
These responses gives the author another chance at a sale, and
to be known as the market expert. Many authors are professional
coaches, consultants or therapists, so when the person contacts
them, they can mention these other services.
Step Five.
Run a search on the top search engines to find the top ten Web
sites in your field. Go to www.google.com, or www.yahoo.com.
Perhaps your subject is women's self care. Think of the key
words or meta tags these sites would use for people to easily
find them.
A few would be "women or women's self care," "healthy women,"
"young women and self care," "mature women's self care,"
"working women with children self care." Use other words for
self care,
Think of the benefits your book gives these women. Include those
in the key words--"regain childhood energy", "reclaim youthful
vitality." Submit several key words.
Then visit the Web sites to see their layout and whether or not
they have a regular ezine that needs tips, excerpts, or stories.
If their site puts up new articles up regularly, your
information has a chance to bring you increased product sales.
Step Six.
Write a note to the Web master or content person, submitting the
titles of your articles or stories. You may want to send an
article along as a sample of your writing.
It may be a complimentary chapter from your book, or an excerpt
that solves a problem for their visitors. Think benefits when
you submit.
What can your material do for their site-their visitors? Before
you send anything out, after several peer edits, have it
professionally edited.
Step Seven.
Place your book and other products on as many publishing sites
as possible. One I use is InfoPost.com. Now, authors can be in
control of their promotion, with far less effort, and get the
respect, support and sales they deserve.
When you submit your book to them, whether by print or ebook,
they will accept credit cards, fill customer orders, take their
commission (far less than a traditional publisher) and send you
the royalties every few months.
Each publishing Online company has its own contract, so choose
the non-exclusive one for your biggest benefit.
Multiple sites equal multiple sales. You don't even need your
own web site to sell your books!
Step Eight.
Organize your research. Start a file called "Web sites to Link
With." If you don't keep track of your promotion contacts, you
will not be able to follow up.
Professional people always follow-up. They develop relationships
with the people they want to do business with. Start a
communication sheet for these people either on your computer or
in a physical file.
For instance, for publishing sites, list the contact person (Web
master or content person), their email and web site URL. Include
your note to them.
Keep track of what you offer, what they like, what they take.
Date your communications.
Not everyone will respond, but with your persistence, many will!
At the end of your note, ask that they include a link back to
either your site or other publishing sites where your books are
offered.
If you are like me, not a technical person, hire a person who
can do the research for you. Remember, people who visit top
sites are looking for free information and entertainment.
They will appreciate your articles, may even pass them on to
friends and associates. Many will go to your site or other sites
to check out your book--even buy it. Web sites want your
information. It seems like a marriage made in cyber heaven.
About Author :
Judy Cullins: author, publisher, book coach eBook: _Ten
Non-techie Ways to Market Your Book Online_ thomas: Include
discounts link.and update rest. include my phone/fax
http://www.bookcoaching.com/products.shtml Subscribe to FREE
ezine "The Book Coach Says..." mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com