Bookstores are like melting icebergs. Every year they become a little less relevant. Reap future revenue by selling your books in non-bookstore (special-sales) segments such as corporations, schools, supermarkets and discount stores.
posted by Brian Jud at
8:24 AM
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"Don't confuse progress with winning. It's one thing to be making continuous improvements and say, 'This year I got 10% better,' but what if you're still last? You have to have an external view and know what it's going to take to become the best," Mary Barra, CEO, GM
posted by Brian Jud at
7:17 AM
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If you expect the unexpected, doesn't that make the unexpected expected? 😊
posted by Brian Jud at
5:44 AM
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Cash flow is vital to the success of a business. There are 3 Vs to identify that can improve cash flow. The first is volume. Seek large, non-returnable book orders by selling to non-retail buyers in corporations, associations, etc. Second is velocity. Those large orders can take a year or more to finalize, so go after the singles, doubles and triples while working on the home runs. Third is variety. Have multiple sources of revenue yielding cash flow regularly. These could be speaking, consulting, writing for periodicals, conducting seminars, etc.
posted by Brian Jud at
6:46 AM
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Commit to get FITT in your marketing by increasing the Frequency (daily action), Intensity (passion), Time (that you apply to marketing) and Type (the assortment of marketing tools) of your book-marketing actions
posted by Brian Jud at
5:44 AM
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"Communications with customers have evolved from companies talking at consumers to dialogues with consumers providing feedback. Now they're becoming multidimensional conversations. For example, Hershey's knows that the tactile pleasure people get from unwrapping the foil around a Kiss transforms an ordinary piece of chocolate into a special experience." (Harvard Business Review). "So what," you say? Maybe you can sell more books by getting people to experience "tactile pleasure" by printing with gilded edges, embossing on the cover, special editions for corporate buyers with a leather cover, shipping your books wrapped with high-quality paper, etc.
posted by Brian Jud at
10:40 AM
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"Location and environment are crucial if you want to generate a decent idea. Being relaxed, sometimes distracted, helps. The harder you force yourself to have an idea, the harder it is to get one." Kevin Duncan
posted by Brian Jud at
9:40 AM
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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.
posted by Brian Jud at
7:05 AM
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Successful marketing recognizes that people are willing to pay more if they perceive extra quality worthy of the additional cost. A bundle containing a book and a DVD or plush toy, priced lower than the two items purchased separately, is a potential benefit. People are usually willing to pay more for it.
posted by Brian Jud at
6:10 AM
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Newsjacking is a proven technique for generating sales leads, adding new customers, getting media attention, and growing your business. Its premise is simple: When there is news, editors and reporters are looking for experts to comment. Let them know in advance that you are the expert in your field, that you're a Newsjacking "first responder," and you can gain a tremendous competitive advantage.
posted by Brian Jud at
6:10 AM
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Reject "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.
posted by Brian Jud at
5:55 AM
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An author's job is to make readers uncomfortable. The impetus for a person to think differently is to become dissatisfied with one's current circumstances
posted by Brian Jud at
9:25 AM
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The most creative device ever invented is the computer keyboard. It contains the next great American novel, and more. But it is really not the keyboard – it's how you use it that can change lives forever. Use it to create content that will make a difference
posted by Brian Jud at
6:44 AM
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Sell more books and increase your cash flow by mastering the art of listening to customers and prospects, understanding their needs, and developing products and services that meet those needs.
posted by Brian Jud at
6:36 AM
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Change questions. An old tale tells of a curious plague that struck a village long ago. When afflicted, its victims went into a death-like coma, and most of died within a day. The problem was that villagers couldn't tell if a victim was dead or alive. After discovering that someone had been buried alive an alarmed town council convened. The majority -- hoping to save lives – voted to put food and water in every coffin. Another group proposed a cheaper solution to implement: a long stake in every coffin placed directly over the victim's heart. Thus, all doubts about the victim's condition would vanish. What differentiated the solutions were the questions used to find them. The first group asked, "What if we buried somebody alive?" The second group asked. "How can we make sure everyone we bury is dead? How can you change your questions to come up with different answers? For example, define your target readers and then ask, "Who else could use this content?"
posted by Brian Jud at
6:14 AM
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Make your own rules. According to ancient prophecy, whoever could untie the "Gordian Knot" was destined to become King of Asia. All who tried failed to solve this strangely complicated puzzle. Then Alexander the Great had a turn. After fruitless attempts to find a starting point, he was stymied. Then he changed strategy and said, "I will just have to make up my own knot untying rules." He pulled out his sword and sliced the knot in half. What new rules can you make up for your marketing idea?
posted by Brian Jud at
6:28 AM
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Work hard and smart. "Anyone can become a millionaire if you set your mind to it. All it takes is focus, perseverance and collaboration. You get more from collaborating with people than competing with them. If you are only in business to make money you'll lead a very hollow life." Dal Lamagna, Founder Tweezerman
posted by Brian Jud at
5:19 AM
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"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." C. S. Lewis
posted by Brian Jud at
6:27 AM
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When networking, understand that "people are more likely to remember encounters that are emotionally charged." Instead of starting with "I just got back from vacation," use an opening line that sparks pleasure such as, "Do you have any exciting plans for this summer?" Another example is, "What was the highlight of your day?" (Wall Street Journal) These questions also put the focus on the other person – usually their favorite subject.
posted by Brian Jud at
6:36 AM
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Are you stuck in your marketing activities? Maybe you should change the way you talk. "People get stuck simply because they're stuck telling a story about why they're stuck." Heather Harilesky, advice columnist
posted by Brian Jud at
5:53 AM
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According to Fortune magazine, "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."
posted by Brian Jud at
6:17 AM
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