Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – July 31, 2018

Do you shy away from taking a risk, or do you consider it an adventure? It depends on your definition. The word "risk" has roots in the Italian word rischiare, meaning, "to dare." Strike the right balance between risk and reward. Alberto Salazar, 3-time winner of the NY City Marathon said, "I had as many doubts as anyone. Standing on the starting line we are all cowards." Dare to sell to non-bookstore buyers.

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Brian Jud is the Executive Director of APSS (www.bookapss.org) - formerly SPAN. He is also the founder of Book Selling University (www.booksellinguniversity.com) and the author of "How to Make Real Money Selling Books." Brian offers commission-based sales of books to buyers in non-bookstore markets. Contact Brian at P. O. Box 715, Avon, CT  06001-0715; (860) 675-1344; brianjud@bookmarketing.com or www.premiumbookcompany.com   twitter.com/bookmarketing

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

"Seek wisdom to do the right things, not for business success. If you do the right things for the right reasons, it might work out. And if not, you'll find your success somewhere else. But always do the right thing." Frank Crail, CEO Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – July 29, 2018

Selling books to corporate buyers is like exercising. You may not enjoy it, but it's good for you. Sometimes the time flies and sometimes you have to force yourself to do it. But you must do a little every day.

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

"One reason Goliath lost is that he anticipated David's response and didn't think of options," said Malcolm Gladwell. Go into every selling situation with alternative ways to reach the buyer's objective using your content. During the negotiation, be open to other solutions as they arise.

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

Five business lessons from The Rolling Stones (Wall Street Journal): 1) Choose the right name. Brian Keith changed the name of the group from Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys to The Rolling Stones. 2) Know what the market wants. The Beatles had staked out the "lovable, non-threatening boys next store" niche, so the Stones became their opposite. 3) Borrow something if it works. The Stones recorded a song based on the gospel song, "This May Be the Last Time." 4) Cut the anchor before it drags you down. Mick and Keith fired Brian Jones when his drug/alcohol problem affected performances. 5) Never stop reinventing. The Stones have gone through at least five stylistic iterations.

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

Superior content alone does not necessarily command a higher price. Consider convenience and perceived value

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

What creative actions could you do to get free media publicity? Check Guinness Book of Records to find something that is remotely related to your business and design a new record you could create – the media will love you

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

Micro media (targeted promotion) can reach more potential buyers than mass media directed to a large, uninterested audience.

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

The volume and velocity of your cash flow is determined by sales, not by the number of books published. #bookmarketing 

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

When meeting with prospective buyers, bring them to the "Aha" moment when they understand, "This person really wants to help me succeed, putting my success in the forefront of the decision, rather than just selling me books"

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

"The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know it when you find it."  Steve Jobs

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

An article in the Wall Street Journal (July 17, p A11) describes podcast-to-book successes, "a growing industry niche as publishers seize on the audio medium know for eclectic voices, relatively low production costs and fervent fans. After years of making YouTubers and social media stars into authors, publishers are now doing the same for podcasters." In addition, podcast producers are "looking at their shows as proof-of-concept vehicles aimed at securing screen and publishing deals."

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

Answer a question with a question for a low-key closing technique. For example, get the decision maker's commitment to buy your book if you can meet his or her needs. Retail Buyer: "I think your book would fit into our product line, but I'm just not sure it will be able to generate enough additional traffic to warrant our replacing an existing book with it." You could reply: "If I can demonstrate to your satisfaction that I have a marketing plan in place and that I will promote your store as carrying my book, would you give it a try (ask the buyer to give it a try rather than commit to a large purchase)?"

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

Brand identity is the business you want your prospects to think you are in.  

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

Use the "So what" test to find the real issue for your buyers: "I've got the best business book ever written." (So what). "It helps people become more focused." (So what). "Your employees will be more productive, absenteeism will decrease and your company will be more profitable." (Oh, now I understand). Sell to the understanding.

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

"When you're first starting a business venture, it pays to say yes to everything… But once you get clear on your strategy, you should turn down more opportunities than you embrace. Aim for a 20-1 ratio of noes to yeses, and you'll achieve the laser focus you need to beat competition." (Fortune)

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

"In an age when entertainment is knocked for being homogenous (movies), mean-spirited (the Internet) or trashy (reality TV), podcasts, for the most part, seem to generate positivity – provoking thought and curiosity, fostering community and connection." All Podcasts Considered," The Wall Street Journal

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – July 11, 2018

Do you write a minimum number of words every day? Ernest Hemmingway tracked his daily word output on a chart "so as to not kid myself." I write three pages every day, even if some are in 72-point type. 😊

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – July 11, 2018

Those of you who are 60+ years old may be interested in the fact that the word "kemosabe" means "soggy shrub" in Navajo. ("The Book of Useless Information," by Noel Botham) 

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

Writing a murder mystery? You may want to know that it is possible to drown and not die. Technically, the term drowning refers to the process of taking water into the lungs, not to death caused by that process.

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

According to Fortune magazine (June 2018, p 88), "A core management lesson that ought to be carved in tablets by now: Building a great business requires not only a relentless focus on doing things well this minute, but also an equally relentless focus on doing things better in the future." Jeff Bezos was quoted in the article as saying, "The three big ideas at Amazon are long-term thinking, customer obsession and a willingness to invent

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

Are you negotiating to buy a car? Wanting a good monthly report, the car-salesperson is more likely to bargain on the last day of the month

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

Before the turn of the century, newspapers were called tabloids, chronicles, gazettes, etc.  Most had local stories, and distant stories were quite old because it took a while for stories to travel (and they were subject to changes from hand to hand). With the advent of the teletype, stories could be broadcast at unheard-of speed. Several papers started carrying stories from all over – north, east, west and south – and that is why they are called 'news'papers. ("The Book of Useless Information," by Noel Botham)

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

It's better to look back on life and say, "I can't believe that I did that," than to look back and say, "I wish I had done that."

Book-Marketing Tip of the Day – July 5, 2018

 Consider the word "discoverability." How will people find your book? In a retail store, your book is one of many purchase options. People make an immediate comparison of your product (content, price, value). In corporate sales, you bring your content to the attention of buyers one at a time. Then their focus is only on your book.

Book Marketing Tip of the Day -- July 4, 2018

Here's a revolutionary idea. If you want to sell 10,000 books through bookstores or Amazon.com, you must find 13,000 different people to each buy one – assuming a 30% return rate. Also consider additional costs for shipping, damaged books and restocking. Why not sell 10,000 non-returnable books to one corporate buyer, and have them pay for shipping? You can do that, and APSS (bookapss.org) can show you how.

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

You may get rejected a lot in special sales. "The Wall Street Journal" quoted Laura Landro with five recommendations to Build Up Your Resilience: 1) Break the negative self-talk habit, 2) Find a sanctuary, 3) Smile, listen, ask questions, 4) Take a walk with co-workers, 5) Write down three things you are grateful for every day

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

Want to see the new courses in Book Selling University? And find out how to get and use awards? If so, see the answer to a reader's question in the July 2 Book Marketing Matters Newsletter. In this issue you will also discover more tips from the top book-marketing experts (Brian Jud, John Kremer, Guy Achtzehn and more) as well as information to help you create a good cover design and run your publishing business. Find proven ways for performing on TV and radio show, all this and more from the top people in their fields in the publishing business.  http://tinyurl.com/3urj5fg

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

Sneak preview: See the July 2 book-marketing newsletter with columns by Brian Jud, John Kremer, Guy Achtzehn, a cover designer and others. Can awards help you sell more books in special markets? Read the answer to a reader's question. Find proven ways for performing on TV and radio show, all this and more from the top people in their fields in the publishing business http://tinyurl.com/3urj5fg