Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 30, 2018

Learn to speed read and increase your EyeQ advantage. Almost one million titles were published last year. If you are in the top 1% of adult readers, you are reading a book a week - and you are still getting way behind. Become an avid – but selective -- reader. One of the many benefits of being a voracious reader is that when you meet people you may be conversant about things in which they are interested. This could increase your chance of making a positive connection when meeting with a prospective buyer.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 28, 2018

New to Book Selling University – a live course. BSU-501: "Lead Generation, Book Sales and Follow Up" is a virtual, one-on-one meeting with Guy Achtzehn This is a live course – not pre-recorded. You will spend at least 60 minutes with an expert in selling books in both small and large, non-returnable quantities to corporate buyers. Discover how to sell your book – not just books like yours. You will leave with an understanding of the people who are most likely to buy your books, a list of your top prospects, how to contact them and most important, how to easily repeat the process for long term benefit and growth of your business See it and more at  https://bit.ly/2IAQn55

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 28, 2018

Your book's content should be Easy, Simple and Amazing: Easy to learn, Simple to implement and give Amazing results 

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 27, 2018

Create a message designed for each target group – let people know you understand and can help them

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 26, 2018

If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got. If you are satisfied with what you have, do more of what you have been doing. If not, try something else, like selling to non-bookstore buyers.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 25, 2018

You can be successful (by your own definition) without being another Malcolm Gladwell or Nora Roberts. Do not try to be someone you are not, or attempt something you are not good at doing. For instance, if you have a publishing business and are not good at accounting or legal issues, hire professionals to help you. If, after introspection, you still believe you are not good at selling, hire someone to do it for you.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 24, 2018

Personal networking is important. In Reader's Digest Bill Nye says, "Everybody you ever meet knows something you don't." Similarly, you know something everybody else does not know. Network face to face and trade your secrets.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 23, 2018

Remember the words in the kid's song, "Reading, writing and arithmetic?" They apply to us, too. Read about your craft. Write your book. Run the numbers to see if you can make a profit (if that is your goal)

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 22, 2018

 Not all motion is forward. You may be on the right path but heading in the wrong direction. Evaluate your progress periodically and make necessary course corrections. 

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 21, 2018

Selling books is much like selling housing. Not everyone in the housing market is seeking a similar residence. There are groups of people with preferences for apartments, condominiums, colonials, contemporaries or ranch houses. Within each segment, some people may also demonstrate a unique preference for layout, location, yard size and color. There is also geographic segmentation for those who prefer city dwellings vs. homes in the suburbs or in rural settings.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 20, 2018

Is your book ready for publication? You have created something that you think is unique, needed and saleable -- so start selling it. From this point, you will either gain momentum or learn what doesn't work. As you proceed, evaluate your circumstances and do more of what is working and make necessary changes to that which is not. Seek sales in new segments (such as to corporate byers), create and communicate new benefits of your content, develop new products (or product extensions), and/or establish new distribution.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 18, 2018

Expect the unexpected. Columbus was looking for India. Bell was trying to invent a hearing aid. Colonel Sanders set out to sell his chicken recipe to restaurants. Often what we're looking for leads us to something much different. What are two unexpected things that might happen to your current project?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 17, 2018

How did Father's Day get started? During a Spokane, Washington Mother' Day service in 1910, a Mrs. Sonora Dodd thought of how she and her five brothers had been raised on a small farm by her single father. She proposed a Father's Day celebration, but although it caught on locally, it was a political hot potato and didn't receive permanent recognition until an edict by President Richard Nixon in 1972. Father's Day is now the fifth-largest card-sending occasion in North America. (The Little Book of Answers, by Doug Lennox)

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 16, 2018

Plan A works best without Plan B. According to the Wall Street Journal (August 17 2016, pg B6), "New research has found that when people make a backup plan for their goals, their performance on the primary goal can suffer. Simply contemplating backup plans makes you want to achieve the primary goal less, which makes you put less effort into it."

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 15, 2018

Selling a large quantity of books is like going to Heaven. Most people want to be there, but they are not willing to do what it takes to make the trip.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 14, 2018

You don't control your sales and revenue. Sales and revenue targets are influenced by manipulating the marketing tools over which you have complete control. These are generally referred to as the Four Ps of marketing: the Product and its Price, Place (distribution) and Promotion.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 13, 2018

Take some of the pressure off the pursuit of your goals. Some goals have a fixed deadline (April 15, BookExpo) but others have a flexible deadline (pub date, promotional campaigns). Which of your goals have flexible deadlines?

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 12, 2018

John McPhee (author of Draft No. 4) on revision: "There are psychological differences from phase to phase, and the first is the phase of the pit and the pendulum. After that, it seems as if a different person is taking over. Dread largely disappears. Problems becomes less threatening, more interesting. Experience is more helpful, as if an amateur is being replaced by a professional."

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 10, 2018

Odd numbers are more believable than even numbers. When quoting a price for your books to prospective buyers, don't say, "Around $10,000." Be specific with, "$9,973." Of course, preface that with a brief summary of the benefits of your content.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 9, 2018

"Don't fear failure. Fear success, because when you succeed you're going to be living your dream 24 hours a day. So, make sure it's what you really want." Dal Lamagna, Founder Tweezerman

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 8, 2018

When asked an important question while selling your books, always pause for at least a silent count of three before replying – especially if it is easy to answer. You will appear more thoughtful, and you will make your prospects feel good that they asked a difficult question.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 7, 2018

A low-key closing technique is the Negative Yes. Here you simply ask a question, the answer to which is most likely to be no. But every time the person says no it eliminates it as a reason not to buy: Buyer: "I'll think about what we discussed today and call you later." You reply, "OK. But just to clarify my thinking, what is it that you want to think over? Is it the topic of my book? ("No").  Is the price out of line? ("No"). Does it have anything to do with the cover design?" The buyer cuts in with, "Now that you mention it, I'm not sure your cover will attract much interest." You respond, "That's interesting. What is it about the cover that could cause that?" Once you uncover the real reason for not buying your book, provide additional information and ask for the order again.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 6, 2018

"We're not in the coffee business serving people, we are in the people business serving coffee," says Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz 

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 3, 2018

If you get a voice-mail message or email from someone you don't know, what do you do? Ignore or delete it? Company buyers do the same when you contact them – if they have never heard of you. Develop an awareness of you and your content (networking, publicity, direct marketing, referrals) before you contact buyers. They will be more likely to respond to your call or email.

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 2, 2018

Want more and better niche publicity? An article Brian Jud wrote about writing headlines is featured on the Nonfiction Authors Association blog. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/2GAtfTx

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – June 1, 2018

The "Wall Street Journal" had an interesting article about getting a second chance after making a bad presentation. For example, if rebuffed, ask for feedback. Try to correct misconceptions. Don't just ask for a do-over, but offer a reason why and present new or different information. "Recovering from a failed presentation isn't an easy fix, but it can be done."