In order for you to have a successful book, you must know that 95% of this success depends on marketing your book. Because most authors aren’t willing to give their attention to competitive marketing strategies, they sell to merely their friends and family; and the book is ultimately forgotten about over time.
Reports from the Publishers Market Association, show that 98% of authors never sell more than 2,000 copies of their book. It is essential for you to know that marketing your book is not a 3, 6, or even just a 9 month challenge. Marketing you book is an ongoing event, that self-publishing guru, Dan Poytner, compares to spending 18 years raising a child.
You will find that some marketing strategies will work well, and others, perhaps not. It is important for you to begin marketing your book in the ways that, first, feel comfortable to you. Then, work your way to the not so comfortable marketing strategies, as you grow in your success. Different strategies may work better for some people, over others. Overall, find which strategies work best for your personality, and which strategies you feel are your surest and quickest road to marketing your book successfully.
Be sure to know and understand: if you don’t stand up and tell the world about your book, then no one else will. Dan Poynter states that bestseller status is achieved when and author sell 35,000 copies of their book. I believe, when you implement these strategies given to you, you will turn your book into a bestseller.
Getting Started Checklist
Create beautiful book cover mock photos to use for website and social media.
Create bookmarks to match your book.
Secure your Book Title domain.
For example, if your book title is Make Money While You Are Sleeping, you will purhcase MakeMoneyWhileYouAreSleeping.com. If your domain is taken, add by your name to the domain. For example, MakeMoneyWhileSleepingByYourName.com
CLICK HERE to be redirected to purchase your domain.
Set up your email with your custom domain in gmail (google mail).
For example, if the domain you just purchased is MakeMoneyWhileYouAreSleeping.com, you will purchase and email address as YourFirstName@MakeMoneyWhileYouAreSleeping.com
CLICK HERE to watch the video tutorial.
Create your email signature.
Update your email signature with your book cover in it, with a COMING SOON! statement.
If you do not know design work you can get one for free by CLICKING HERE.
WATCH THIS VIDEO tutorial to learn where to put your signature into your email.
Create a list of keywords for your SEO for your website.
To add SEO to your website is $50 per year for the tools that make it function.
Create and send out surveys.
- If you want to set up your Survey Account within your website and for the lowest investment, get the WP FORM plugin for $32 a year. If you do not have a WordPress website, you will need to use Survey Monkey for $32 a month. Once your book is written, you can cancel the service if you want. You can try the basic package for free… I am just not certain about your limitations. CLICK HERE to get Survey Monkey.
- Questions we will be asking on the survey are
- Do you feel this chapter was well written?
- Did you learn anything from this chapter? If so, what? (Please feel free to list bullet points.)
- Did you find any typos in this chapter? If so, please list the typo and the page number it is on.
- Is there anything you feel needs more clarification in this chapter? For example, does the Author need to expand on a topic discussed in the chapter?
- (We will only include this question if you are putting written exercises into your chapter.) Did you find the written exercise in this chapter helpful?
- Write a one to two sentence review about this chapter, to be used for marketing purposes.
- What is your name?
FREE AND SIMPLE STRATEGIES
- Place your book cover image on the flip side of your business card.
- Sell books at the back of the room at a table near exit after speaking.
- Advise others that your book makes for a great holiday gift.
- After your speech when asked to do photos, always have book cover in your photo.
- Always leave a copy of your book on the dashboard of your car for others to see.
- Have your book cover on your business card.
- Place business cards on all community bulletin boards.
- Have friends sell your books at their point of purchase displays (coffee stands).
- Display your book cover and photo on your email auto-signature.
- Carry your book with you at all times – you never know who you will meet.
- Give your e-Book away as special bonus to other authors marketing their books.
FREE AND MORE COMPLEX STRATEGIES
- Sell book to corporations with their company CEO having foreword in book.
- Sell book to seminar companies who will give it away as lure to attract attendees.
- Partner with entrepreneur who will give your book away in their marketing efforts.
- Sell book in volume at half price to others who can make money selling full price.
- Focus on selling books 10,000 at a time, instead of one at a time.
- Sell your book on Amazon.
- Have friends write a review about your book on Amazon.
- Send out 5-10 review copies of your book daily to people who can buy in volume.
- Send press releases of your book to newspapers.
- Get on TV as often as you can and promote your book.
- Get book reviews done and then have these review posted at Amazon.
- Sign up at and utilize their services: HelpAReporter.com ReporterConnection.com
- Do book signings at book stores and help them promote the event.
THE COST OF YOUR BOOK IS YOUR ONLY COST
- Place your books face out in window displays at bookstores (reverse stealing).
- Offer buy two books, get one free promotions.
- Provide your books as door prizes at your speaking engagements.
- Provide your books as door prizes at all events that you attend.
- Get your books in the hand of all top performers in all MLM companies.
- Leave signed books in any and all waiting rooms (dentists, doctors, chiropractors).
- Send your books to biggest bloggers in on your genre www.Technorati.com
- Get your books in the decision makers of book clubs throughout the world.
- Get your book in Target Stores.
- Get your books in Wal-Mart.
- Get your books in Costco / Sam’s Club.
- Leave a copy of your book at registration table for all conferences you attend.
- Send your book to editors of magazines to review.
- Submit your books at fundraisers and silent auctions.
- Leave books behind in strategic high traffic areas like first class seating in planes.
- Trade books with other speakers and then each of you sell the other’s at back table.
- Give book to MC, often times they will hold it with them in front of the audience.
- Give books away to local libraries.
- Instead of purchasing Christmas gifts for others, give your book as a gift.
- Write articles for magazines after editor reviews your book.
- Do radio interviews often, and give free books to callers.
- Market your books to direct-selling organization’s book-of-the-month program.
COSTLY AND INTELLIGENT
- Conduct own seminars / workshops and give book away with each paid admission.
- Get your book in an audible format. Sell on Amazon and Transform Publishing website.
- Sell your audible book on ACX.com – you will only earn royalties here.
- Int’l book agent to take your book to World Book Expo to sell foreign rights.
- Open a Thunderclap.it account. To learn about this go to: Thunderclap.it/about.com.
- Sign up at and utilize their services: PRLeads.com.
- Get your book distributed in bookstores worldwide via Book Clearinghouse.
- Do a book release party 90 days after book is in print.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the process of executing a proper book release party?
- Host in your hometown with an aim of 250+ attendees. If you get at least 125 attendees, consider it a great success.
- Hire a world-class videographer. Be sure there are 2 microphones: one for you and one for the recording (a professional videoagrapher will know this). Be sure to do 1 video of you speaking directly into the camera with the crowd mingling behind you. Tell about the event, your excitement, and of course your book. The 2nd video should be of you speaking and lots of footage of the crowd responding to you speaking, mingling, standing in line to have you sign their book and purchase your book.
- Be sure there is a stage at the event for you to stand on.
- Goal: Audition for future speaking engagements. Use video footage for marketing your speaking career.
- Host event on a Tuesday or Thursday evening between 6-9pm.
- Only as a last choice option host event on a Saturday morning between 9am-12pm.
- Host event 30-60 days after book is printed to assure you have enough time to promote event.
- Use a highend conference room. Should pay between $1,000-$1,500 for the room.
- Cover room cost via coporate sponsors. Go after corporations you do business with. If they tell you no, take your business elsewhere. Support those who support you.
- Sponsor packages should cost according to the number of people who will be in attendance. $1 per person.
- 100 people = $100
- 250 = $250
- What to offer your sponsors:
- 6 ft marketing display table
- tables should be set up in a horseshoe shape around the room.
- Powerpoint image of their brand on the white screen for at least 45 minutes of the event.
- Include their logo, website, email, phone#, branding statement.
- Have it flash on screen every 7-10 seconds.
- Logo on event flier.
- Logo on materials.
- Ask to donate door prizes.
- 1 minute infomercial on stage before you speak.
- 6 ft marketing display table
- Sell more sponsorships than what you need to cover your cost.
- Give sponsorship packages to nonprofits.
- Sell seating by the table. Tables should be round tables.
- Don’t purchase meals. Don’t buy food.
- If you must purchase a meal, have a sponsor cover the cost.
- If you must have a snack, put a small bowl of snack in the middle of each table.
- Even if your book has been published for 5 years, you should still host a book release party.
- How to put Butts in Chairs:
- Find 10 people to be part of your volunteer marketing team.
- People who you love (family and friends).
- Each of the 10 bring 10 people with them.
- Be sure to inform them to pick their people up and drive together.
- Realistically they will each average 7 people = 70 people.
- Give them fliers and your book to use.
- Have your picture holding your book on the flier.
- Be sure to include on the flier: who, what, when, where, and why.
- Pricing on Flier: Suggested admission $25 per person or per couple. Pricing includes signed copy of your book. Do not sell tickets. This is the price at the door.
- Take fliers with you everywhere and post everywhere.
- If someone comes with no money to pay, they still get in because you want their head in the video; however, they do not receive a book.
- Normally only 28% of your audience would purchase a book at your event, using the above method assures 90% will purchase instead of the 28%.
- If they want to purchase more than 1 book, do a buy 2 get one free in order to sel more and up the percentage of sales.
- Have a conference call one a week with your 10 people to check where they are on their ticket sales, and keep them updated on the event planning.
- Find 10 people to be part of your volunteer marketing team.
- No alcohol. If must, do an open bar: they purchase their own alcohol.
- Have music playing. DJ is ideal, but at least a CD.
- Send out a Press Release: Newspaper, tv, radio. (See sample press release document.)
- Blast it out 90 days prior to event.
- Press release will bring in about 10 people.
- Get a list of verbal RSVP’s. Don;t make them feel that they have to have a ticket to get in the door.
- Create a War list.
- A list of all of your family and friends who live within a 300 mile radius.
- Who will fly in for your event?
- Blast an email to your War list.
- Spend 20-30 days blasting personalized emails out to everyone on your list. Only one person per email…use copy and paste method.
- There should be 4 paragraphs to this email:
- How is the family?
- “It would mean a lot to me if you supported me by attending my launch party.” (Bold and Italicize this line.)
- Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, and How Much.
- Thank you very much for your support, please RSVP to this email.
- Send out 300-400 emails – 1/2 won’t reply.
- Wait 3 to 4 days and send the same email again to those who didn’t respond. 1/2 of these won’t reply.
- Wait another 3 to 4 days and send same message via text message to those who didn’t reply to email
- There should be 4 paragraphs to this email:
- A list of all of your family and friends who live within a 300 mile radius.
- Have an MC at your event. Do not be the acting MC, as you will need to mingle and sign books. Be sure that you have someone working the table for you to sell the books…you should only be signing.
- Don’t forget to do “in person” marketing.
- Create social media event page.
- Logistics of Event:
- Tuesday or Thursday 6pm-9pm.
- You arrive by 5pm.
- Set up book table.
- Place evaluation sheet at each seat.
- You will have evaluation forms at each seat prior to event. On this form you will offer a complimentary consultation (not a free consultation). Evaluation form will also be used as a door prize form; therefore, they have to write their contact info on it and turn it in.
- Have a sign in table for when people arrive.
- Have a table where you sign books.
- People will begin showing up about 5:45pm.
- Between 6pm-6:45pm you are signing books and taking photos. Your guest are networking with music playing.
- Be sure MC announces for everyone to get thier book signed, photo taken, and to network.
- Be sure your book cover is in every photo.
- At 6:45pm MC announces for everyone to take their seats, then MC calls corporate sponsors to come up to do their infomercial.
- At 7pm sharp, the MC does a 5-10 minute warm-up speech, then reads your Speaker One Sheet. (See Speaker One Sheet Sample.)
- When you get on stage your first line is “I want to thank the MC.”
- Do a full 1 hour keynote speech about what is in your book.
- 8pm: MC puts to chairs on the stage: 1 for you and 1 for MC. MC interviews you, ask you 5 questions.
- Begin this immediately after speech so nobody gets out of their seat.
- 5 questions to ask you:
- What compelled you to write this book?
- How do people book you for speaking engagements?
- How do people get a complimentary consultation?
- Direct them to the evaluation form at their seat.
- Your book makes for a fantastic holiday gift (be specific on the next holiday coming up). Are you running a special on buy 2 get one free for this holiday?
- Open questioning to the audience.
- Have your 10 volunteers ready with questions in case nobody in the audience ask questions.
- Q&A shoud be 20 minutes in length.
- 8:30pm: MC says “Thank You” and announces door prizes to be given out in 10 minutes.
- Have MC read a list of all the door prizes, and inform guests to fill out thier evaluation forms, turn in, and they must be present to win.
- Be sure to have a grand prize.
- Go to dinner with a guest.
- 90% of people rig this prize so they go to dinner with a prospect: someone who is likely to hire them for speaking and/or coaching.
- This is up to you.
- Do not rig any other door prize.
- 90% of people rig this prize so they go to dinner with a prospect: someone who is likely to hire them for speaking and/or coaching.
- Go to dinner with a guest.
- Turn music on while people are filling out the evaluation and turning them in. During this time take pictures with your guest, and encourage them to blast them on social media. Remember, your book cover in every photo.
- During this time have your 10 volunteers give a 10 to 15 second video review on how awesome your speech was.
- Your results should be to sell 100 books in one night. Profit: $3-5,000 / $2,500 minimum profit.
- Have a fish bowl at your event to have guest put their business cards in.
- Let them know they will be added to your newsletter once they place card in bowl.
Now that you have accompished your big event speak everywhere you can whether paid or free. Every speech is an audition for a paid speaking engagement. You will sell books as a result of not getting paid. You will also get coaching clients through speaking.
- Do a teleseminar every week. No matter how few people can get on the call. Market this to the world.
- If no one gets on the call, don’t tell anyone. Just tell everyone it was fantastic.
- Every time you speak offer a complimentary conference call seminar. 45 minutes in length with 15 minutes of it being a sales pitch
Doesn’t matter how many show up, because when you speak business happens!
***If you would like help with your book release party and for me to be your MC, CLICK HERE.
2. What is PRLeads.com, HelpAReporter.com, and ReportConnection.com?
ReportConnection.com – FREE
HelpAReporter.com – FREE
PRLLeads.com – $99 a month
(Link Buttons Below)
- PRLeads.com is your best opportunity to get into New York Times and USA Today.
- You will receive emails informing you of specific journalist who are seeking to interview Public Speakers/Authors.
- When you see a journalist who fits your topic you will send them an email.
- In this email you will include the following:
- 3 Paragraphs:
- Paragraph 1: Your credentials.
- Paragraph 2: How you would respond to their story. (3-4 bullet points).
- Paragraph 3: Express your excitement to help with their article, and all future articles of this nature.
- 3 Paragraphs:
3. What is a Book Clearing House?
- We at Transform put your book into the #1 book distributor on planet earth. They distribute to all book stores including, Barnes and Nobles, along with other book stores worldwide.
- It is $250 to get your book into the Clearing House.
- When Barnes and Nobles, and other book stores receive an order for your book, the Book Clearing House sends your book to them.
- It is essential for you to understand that you more than likely will not get paid for the sale of your books through this method – sometimes they pay and sometimes they don’t. Hence the reason to sell on your website. This avenue is for prestige only.
- Just because your book is in the clearing house, does not mean it will be on the shelves of book stores. However, you are in their database. For instance, say that someone calls or walks in Barnes and Nobles and ask for your book. Barnes and Nobles will look in their database to see if they carry it. Because you are in the fulfillment center, your book will show in their database. Barnes and Nobles then tells the customer “Yes, we can order it for you.”
- To create demand for your book to be sold on shelves in book stores, have your family and friends consistently call book stores of your choice (Barnes and Nobles), and ask them if they carry your book. The book store will then look in their database and see your book in their system. They will tell the customer (your friend), “Yes, we do have it, but not in the store. We can order it for you.” Your friend responds with, “That’s okay, I will try another store that carries it.” The more this happens, the more likely they are to order it to be sold on their shelves. Whether, they carry it in stores or not, your book is available at their store because it is in their database and can be ordered…all thanks to the Book Clearing House! Therefore, you can advertise, “Buy my book at…..Barnes and Nobles!”
- What you must understand: You will lose about 65% of your profits by selling your book in stores. Remember, it is for prestige only – credential and credibility, not for profit.
- Contact Elena at Info@ElenaFrobase.com to get started!
4. What is Technorati.com?
-
- Technorati is a service that tracks and monitors the biggest bloggers in different categories.
- You want to watch for and contact bloggers who relate to your topic.
- Once found, send them your book.
- For most bloggers, you can visit their website to get their address.
- The purpose is to get them to love your book and blog about it.
- Before just sending them your book you may want to send them a message and ask them:
- “Do you blog on these types of books?”
- When they say “Yes”, send them your book.
- When they say “No”, don’t send them your book.
- “Do you blog on these types of books?”
5. What are the best book clubs and who are their decision makers?
-
- The biggest book club in the country is OneSpirit.com.
- Visit their website, and send them your book.
- Google search other book clubs and do the same.
- Google book club topics that fit your topic.
- Example:
- Leadership book clubs
- Fiction book clubs
- Science Fiction book clubs
- Fantasy book clubs
- Romance book clubs
- …etc.
- Example:
- The biggest book club in the country is OneSpirit.com.
6. Is there a list of direct selling companies with the contact person and contact info listed?
To find a list go to DSA.org (Direct Selling Association). (Link Button Below.)
7. Who do I promote the sale of my book to purchase 10,000 copies at a time? Is there a specific list of people you recommend me reaching out to?
- Networking Marketing Companies
- Bloggers
- Corporations
EXAMPLE: There was a lady who wrote a book about BBQ. She found a company that sold BBQ paraphernalia and sold them 10,000 books. The company made a deal for anyone who bought a grill received a free book. Companies like this will use your book to entice others to purchase their product.
8. Who is the contact person for Target stores, Wal-Mart stores, and Sams Club stores?
- Purchase the book 1,001 Ways to Market Your Book by: John Kremer.
- This book can be found on Amazon.
- Used copy about $10.
- It is important for you to know that these stores will keep about 65% of the profit, and they pay you once every 120 days.
- Again, this method of selling your book is for prestige, not for big profit.
- This book can be found on Amazon.
9. Do you have a list and contact info of editors of magazines to send book to?
- Look inside the first few pages of any magazine and you will find just what you are looking for.
- Also, you can check on each magazine’s website.
10. What is the best process to get a book store to do a book signing for me…especially when my book isn’t sold there yet?
- Load your car up with books, and begin to go door to door, talking with each book store manager.
- Be sure that you are set up with Ingrams first.
- The book stores will more than likely ask you if you have a distribution set up.
- When you tell them “Yes, with Ingrams”, you have nearly a sure win.
- The book stores will more than likely ask you if you have a distribution set up.
11. Do you have a list and contact info of International World Book Expo agents? What is the process to get this done?
- Yes we do!
- Foreign rights book publishing consultancy represents more than 200 North American authors and publishers of non-fiction books.
- With more than a half-century successful book publishing industry experience, their foreign rights focus is in the following categories:
- Business, Personal Development
- Psychology/Self-Help
- Careers, Personal Finance
- Health, Nutrition
- Education Resources
- Parenting
- Selected Other Non-Fiction Subjects
- Once, your book is in the catalog, it is sent it to 40,000 foreign publishers.
- This category always catches lots of attention from foreign publishers. We will create a special electronic full color brochure featuring a limited number of new non-fiction titles. It will be sent to foreign publishers and agents worldwide. Since we will limit this to a fewer than 15 titles, each book will receive maximum exposure and attention.
- Foreign publishers are always seeking exceptional non-fiction books…what could be more exceptional than new books?
- Each book will have a full half page (8-1/2 X 5-1/2) space to include a full color image of the cover and a very detailed description of the book. This will wet the appetite of the foreign publishers encourage them to seek more information about books that match their publishing needs.
- The foreign publishers and agents will contact us requesting more information about specific titles. We’ll follow up on those, probably asking you to send review copies in either hard copy form or PDFs.
- We will follow up regularly on your behalf and keep you informed of any significant developments, like an offer or a “no.”
- We will negotiate all offers to their realistic maximum and present them to you for approval. Upon your approval we will prepare the legal contract, obtain signatures and payment of the advance from the foreign publisher.
- We are compensated with 15% taken from the advance, or 20% if one of our 35 foreign agents is involved.
- We do it all…from contact to contract!
- Participation fee in our Featured Titles Program is only $650 per title.
This is an important program and space is limited. I encourage you to consider this value and let me know promptly if you would like to participate. I would love to represent your book(s)!
- Contact Elena at Info@ETransformInternational.com to get started!
12. Are there any other catalogs I can get my book into for maximum exposure?
Yes!
Highlight your title to bookstore and library buyers across the globe. Purchase an annotation in an advanced catalog.
Published monthly and distributed five weeks prior to the issue month, It is a comprehensive title listing and purchasing tool. Included are hardcover, trade paper, audiobook, gifts & games, and mass market titles.
Circulation: 7,000 top U.S. booksellers and librarians; and in PDF format to over 27,000 international and domestic customers.
Cost to have your title included is $175 .
Please note: This publication is English language only. Annotations may run up to four months after purchase date.
Contact us at Info@ETransformInternational.com to get started!
AUTHOR EMAIL TEMPLATES
Amazon Reviewer Contact Email Template
Dear {Review’s Name},
My name is {Your Name}, and I have written a book about {brief description of book} titled, {Your Book Title Here}.
I got your name from the list of Amazon Top Reviewers and I see that you have reviewed books that are similar to mine. I have a Kindle book, {book title}, and I would like to give you a complimentary copy in hopes that you might want to review it for me. There is no obligation to review it, and I would like you to have a copy regardless.
If you are interested, please let me know and I will get you the book ASAP.
Thank you!
Best Regards,
{Your Name}
Radio/Podcast Contact Email Template
Dear {Insert Name or Station Manager},
My name is {insert name} and I recently published a book entitled, {“insert title”}. My new book is a {book category} that {focus of book}. I believe that this topic is one that your listening audience may be interested in hearing more about, and I would be happy to speak on air and {provide information/offer tips/etc.}
I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience so that I can provide you with more details. I may be reached at {contact information}.
You can also review my media kit here: {media kit link}
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
{Your Name}
Newspaper Contact Email Template
Dear {Insert Name},
I am an author who proudly grew up in {location}. I know that your newspaper has previously featured articles of local interest, and I was hoping that you would consider publishing a column or interview with me regarding a book I recently published.
My new book, {“insert title”}, is a {book category} that is set right here in our county. Briefly, it is about {description of book}. I believe the community will enjoy seeing this story unfold in the place that they call home. The book is currently being sold at {store, website, etc.} and further details are available in my media kit here: {media kit link}
I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience. I may be reached at {contact information}.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
{Your Name}
Book Store Contact Email Template
Dear {Insert Name or Store Manager},
I am an author who proudly grew up in {location} and I have recently published a new book entitled, {“book title”}. It is a {book category} set in our county and is about {brief description of book}. I believe the community will enjoy seeing this story unfold in the place that they call home.
I would like to speak with you about the possibility of {store name} carrying my book. I have been advertising locally through {types of advertising} and would like to be able to point potential readers to your store through my advertisements.
I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience so that I can provide you with more details. I may be reached at {contact information}.
You can also review my media kit here: {link to media kit}
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
{Your Name}