Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – July 1, 2016

When we are very young writers our teachers might tell us a rule: Every paragraph must have five sentences. But as we grow as writers we come to understand that such rules have targeted, limited purposes and that often they are breakable. As mature writers, we select only those rules that help us achieve our purpose and ignore the rest.

 

It doesn't mean discarding your traditional ways of doing important things and coming up with entirely new methods. It means making small experiments with everyday routines, little things that we often think are set in stone but can be changed with just a bit of effort and experimentation – and make us feel like we really own our lives.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 30, 2016

Empower yourself. Taking risks may simply be a matter of changing the way you think about risks – they are more like adventures. While in the corporate world many years ago I was afraid to leave the secure position and start my own business. Then came a layoff and I decided to listen to Robert Schuller who said "I'd rather try something great and fail, than do nothing and succeed."  Is something holding you back from making the leap to special sales?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 29, 2016

Do not print too many books initially. Each title is different and requires its own unique set of calculations. But in general, be conservative. You can always reprint. If your book is aimed at the bookstore market, never print more than six months anticipated supply. Subsequent print runs are more profitable. If you allocate all your production costs to the first printing, you can make more money on future sales.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 28, 2016

Ask questions beginning with "What if…?" What if you condensed the information in your book and made a series of booklets? What if you sold your book as a premium to corporations?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 27, 2016

Fight For It. Much of the world has its defenses up to keep out new ideas. You need to become a warrior and do what is necessary to make your idea a reality. Sometimes, this means fighting your way past the obstacles you encounter. As Yoda, the Jedi Warrior, put it, "Try? There is no try. There is only do or not do." What are you willing to do to put your idea into action?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 26, 2016

Be Dissatisfied. An inventor was asked why he spent sixteen hours every day tinkering with his work. "Because I'm dissatisfied with everything as it currently exists in its present form." Some dissatisfaction can be beneficial to the creative process. Otherwise you can lose the prod you need to find potential opportunities in non-bookstore markets, as well as answers to marketing problems. What are you (or could you be) dissatisfied about?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 25, 2016

You know when you are getting good at book marketing when you are having fun and being creative. When you don't even realize you're getting better, that's when you're getting better. If you're not engaged in what you are doing, it's as helpful as taking the trash out. It's just another chore.

 

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 24, 2016

Your content does not have to be better than competitive titles, just different. Claim your market niche where your difference makes a difference. Volvo does not claim to make a better car than BMW – just a different one. In customers' minds, Volvo is associated with safety, while BMW emphasizes the joy and excitement of driving. Because the two automakers emphasize different criteria of purchase, they appeal to different customers. Apply the same concept to your content.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 23, 2016

The philosopher Epictetus remarked, "What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are." If you think you are creative, you will act that way -- and vice versa. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. As you think, so you are. Are you creative? Good at marketing your book?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 22, 2016

How many books to print? Ebook, too? High price or low? Too many decisions to make? If you are tired of making decisions you may be suffering from decision fatigue. "The cause of this condition is having two things that have become abundantly available: data and choices. Having data feels like power. Having choices feels like freedom. Sometimes having both is having neither." (Wall Street Journal, June 11, p A13)

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 21, 2016

Break the rules. Napoleon broke the rules on the proper way to conduct a military campaign. Beethoven broke the rules on how a symphony should be written. Most advances in science, medicine, art, cooking, design and book publishing have come about when someone challenged the rules and tried a different approach. What rules can you break to sell more of your books?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 20, 2016

See the positive. When most people see something out of the ordinary they have a natural negative, uncomfortable bias. Instead, when you see a new idea, focus initially on its positive and interesting features. Think of the acronym PIN when you have a new idea. First make a Positive comment, then something Interesting, and if necessary, make a Negative observation. An idea is like a round peg that won't fit into a square hole. It needs some re-shaping. What is positive about your latest "round" book-marketing idea?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 19, 2016

If you can show people how they can help themselves in some way by reading your book you are likely to increase your sales and revenue. But how can you discover their problems? Use a PAR analysis - a brief description of the Problems relevant to your target readers, the Actions you recommend they take to rectify their situations and the Results they can expect if they follow your recommendations. For each major problem (issue, situation or circumstance), describe how your content will show people how to take some action to resolve it. Then explain the results the reader can expect after taking that action. Focus on the results when communicating with your prospective buyers.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 18, 2016

"Most writers I know are also very big readers. There's a part of writing that comes out of how you see the world..." Salman Rushdie

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 17, 2016

Three ways to build your business: 1) marketing & sales, 2) hiring the right people, and 3) mergers & acquisitions; APSS can help with #1 (www.bookapss.org)

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 16, 2016

 "You don't write because you want to say something. You write because you have something to say." F. Scott Fitzgerald

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 15, 2016

Instead of having "Tunnel Vision" where you only see sales opportunities through bookstores, acquire "Funnel Vision" where you regularly add potential non-bookstore buyers into your prospecting funnel and qualify those who are most likely to buy; then contact them.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 14, 2016

3 ways to build your business: 1) marketing & sales, 2) hiring the right people, and 3) mergers & acquisitions; APSS can help with #1

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 13, 2016

Writing about things you know best goes only so far…  find a story, as Truman Capote did, in his novel In Cold Blood." Salman Rushdie

Book-Marketing Tip of the Weekend: June 11-12, 2016

When presenting your book, clearly communicate the logic behind your idea. The resulting discussion should be about the idea in the chart, not the chart itself.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 11, 2016

Solve the right problem. "I'm not returning until you fix it," bandleader Count Basie told a club owner whose piano was always out of tune. A month later Basie got a call that everything was fine. When he returned, the piano was still out of tune. "You said you fixed it!" an irate Basie exclaimed. "I did," came the reply. "I had it painted." Are you solving the right problem?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 10, 2016

Some marketing tools are better suited to different titles, markets and personalities. Use the correct mix for your circumstances.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 9, 2016

Are you near CT? If so, plan to attend my workshop, "The Buck Starts Here," a one-day event to help you sell more books more profitably; June 25, 10 – 4:00 pm; info and registration at www.bookapss.org/JudMiniU.pdf

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 8, 2016

"The best and hardest work is done in the spirit of adventure and challenge. Mistakes will be made." William McKnight, CEO of 3M

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 7, 2016

When selling to non-retail buyers you have competition, but it is in a different form.  It may not be from other books, but from coffee mugs, apparel or glassware.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 6, 2016

If you cannot control an outcome, planning will help you respond in a calm and intelligent manner regardless of the circumstances

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 5, 2016

Before you publish your book, find out if your content fills a market need. If not, how can you create new content or create a market need?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 4, 2016

If you are looking to authors for manuscripts, turn around and look to readers for areas of need

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 4, 2016

If you are looking to authors for manuscripts, turn around and look to readers for areas of need

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 3, 2016

"Get out of your garage and go take a chance and start your business." Kevin Plank, Founder Under Armour

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 2, 2016

People do not buy the tangible features of a book, i.e., the paper and ink that create it. They buy the intangible benefits they receive from reading fiction: a vicarious feeling of fantasy, romance, adventure or mystery. When purchasing nonfiction, readers are really buying information, motivation and help. 

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day –June 1, 2016

Walt Disney had four words of advice for budding entrepreneurs: Think, Dream, Believe and Dare. Think about how you can sell more books, dream about how you can make that happen, believe in your dreams and then dare to act on them. Can you do that?