Monday, July 29, 2013

Book Marketing Myth #3: Books only have one window or time to launch.


Let’s recap—Book Marketing Myth #1: It’s Not for Me … Really … If not for you, then who? Looked at why the author has got to be the lead, and driver of his or her book marketing success (or failure);Book Marketing Myth #2: Getting on a Major TV Show will Sell Tons of Books and a Publicist will Get Me On for Sure … probed into the myth that major TV will launch a thousand books. Both should be read at http://authoru.org under the Blog section.
Now it’s time to look at the third myth—the launch. Surely it won’t be a mere splish-splash …it’s going to be a tsunami of massive magnitude! Maybe, maybe not.
book launch 3
Book Marketing Myth #3: Books only have one window or time to launch. True or False?
                           Books only have one window or time to launch. Not!
Maybe, most likely not. What a massive launch does is kickstart a buzz possibility. Authors who have been out there for a while, those of use with the first out and mostly likely more on the way, know that it’s rarely one item—rather a series of events, activities, articles, appearances—that fuel sales. Wouldn’t we all love the grand launch … all my amazing thoughts and energy into the launch will bring in MASSIVE book sales … accolades … invitations for speaking gigs … the Today show and The View will want me … my world will be soooooooo awesome …

As an author who started with traditional publishing in the 80s, my books launched (jeeze, we didn’t even use that phrase then) with an author tour. Media releases were created; cities identified; and TV, radio, print interviews were set up in each including book signings. We authors “were kept” as one might say. The publisher set it all up including air tickets, itinerary, escorts in each city to pick you up-get you to where you needed to be—in make sure you were fed.

Exhausting, exciting … and often disappointing. Oh, the interviews were the cat’s meow. And fun. Sometimes there were books in the stores, too often, not—I think that was my first wake up that the “system” wasn’t totally communicating in a trickle down matter—author is going to be in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver (all great book cities by the way)—doing massive media, speaking, make sure books are in stores, etc.—somehow didn’t get relayed.

And then the wait … were there book sales? Maybe … maybe not. Back then, a book had about six weeks to make its mark. If it didn’t, the publisher’s attitude was, “Next …”
That was then; this is now. If you are traditionally publishing, maybe … maybe, your publishing will support you in this. But it’s a HUGE maybe and most likely not in the picture. Oh, you can do an Author Tour yourself—it’s a lot of work … and YOU must drive people (or have someone doing it for you at each stop) to where you are speaking signing, etc.

Today, LOTs has changed. The mark with traditional publishing is a lot shorter—just a couple of weeks. That’s why they want authors to have huge social medial platforms—you dear author, will do most of the marketing work. You are telling your fans, your followers to “Go-Go-Go” and get the book.

Go-Go-GOOOOO is the beginning … it’s not the end. Launch today should be thought of as a Rolling Launch. Here’s where you start. Build up a plan for a year to support your book. Sure—go for #1 on Amazon, why not. But what’s next. Get those blogs out; keep supporting your baby through all your social media channels. Get out there and chat it, you, the topic, what you solve, the intrigue … the whatever … and support your book so it can build the legs you envisioned in the first place. Don’t expect it to happen overnight. Its lottery odds if it does.

Think again. The savvy author thinks of the launch is a starting point. A beginning. It needs to be in the Book GamePlan. It’s not the end where one is expected to live happily ever after. At least, not yet

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd(www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Author U(www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writingabout and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms has won multiple book awards and hit #1 on Amazon. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book Publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Posts related to Book Marketing Myth #3: Books only have one window or time to launch.


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Book Marketing Myth #2: Publicity Sells Tons of Books

Getting on a Major TV Show will Sell Tons of Books and a Publicist will Get Me On for Sure!


If I have heard it once, I have heard it over a thousand times. “I don’t want to market my books … I just want to write.”
I get it … many authors would rather just be writing. After all, the blood and guts, heart and soul are already in the book. What else could anyone want?
One word: Plenty. That’s what they want. If you have a publisher, today’s expectation is that you will market your tush off. You. And put money in. The “free ride” of being taken of … where the editor actually bought the book because she thought it was the cat’s meow and really, really believed in it. The hand of her personal editing was apparent throughout and her voice was a factor in any marketing and publicity strategies. An editor was a kick-butt advocate for any author she or he took under her wing. The publicity department would create a “media attentive” press release; pitch the book to all the major shows and print … and follow-up to re-pitch and hopefully, book your appearance. In many cases, author tours were planned for multiple cities with the publishing house picking up the tab for all expenses. The good old days.
Much has changed. Many publishers have Acquisition Editors … scouts so to speak … that find the author (or are pitched to); get a proposal of some sort which must get the seal of approval from the marketing department; sign the author; agree on some type of advance; and then formally assign the book to the editor overseer. Today’s traditional publisher does editing, but not to the degree of yesteryear with the exception of the front list books and major authors in the publishing stable. Advances have been slashed and the expectation is that the author will take those moneys and use them for marketing and publicity purposes. Author tours are basically passé and the depth of editing has been reduced.
 What’s an author to do? Three words: get over it. You’ve got two choices to support your book. Hire someone(s) to handle it, or learn and implement marketing and publicity strategies yourself.
The 80-20 Rule comes into play. Truth be told, 20 percent (possibly less) of your time is dedicated to creating your book; 80 percent (or more) is directed toward marketing and publicity to support it.


If you hire someone to do the pitching … someone, meaning you, has got to gather up the info and content to get it to a literary publicist. Don’t expect a publicist to be a mind reader—she or he needs your attention when engaged, meaning you hired them. Who knows your book better than you?
           • You should know who your reader/audience is. You want your demographics to be spot on. If  your book is about personal finance or personal growth, being pitched to a rap station is a wrong fit.
           • You should know the ahas and the hooks. Ahas and hooks that roll off your tongue in a nano-second. If you don’t, the snooze factor surfaces quickly, especially in programs that are crunched for time and your segment is just a few minutes.
           • You should be able to instantly identify any newsworthy items that your book/expertise can tie into. Pay attention to what’s happening—nationally … and do a search for the local news of the city/state you have your interview with at least an hour before your interview-tying your topic to what’s in the viewer’s eyes/ears is a big plus.
Whether it’s a flat fee for the “book publicity project upon launch”; a monthly retainer arrangement; or one is hired for a variety of projects—from the initial book publishing date to ongoing projects related to the book over a period of time, a good publicist can do wonders … but they can’t guarantee anything. Pitching is what a publicist does—based on what you provide. Pitching to TV, radio and print resources. Yes, they often morph it; tweak words, phrases even come up with quotes that “you made” to incorporate in the media release. And yes, rejection is an everyday common occurrence in any publicist’s life. Rejection of pitches they make on you and your book’s behalf. And when there is a major hit, meaning you are booked, there is absolutely no guaranteed that books will be sold. None.
In reality, even Oprah didn’t move that many titles when the author was a guest on her show—it was a hit or miss for book sales. Oh, the publishing house made a big deal and let’s face it, the internal publicist gets a check-off on her list that she booked “something” for the department and the author’s ego got a nice stroke.

If you are going to do publicity with a primary motive to create sales … understand this clearly: books have got to be readily and easily available. 
Today, that means Amazon at the minimum. Support your favorite book store and use its name with live media. Most authors, especially new ones, want to drive buyers to the website. Don’t. Get them to the one that is easiest to remember.

Books are impulse buys. 
 Oprah’s Book Club moved plenty of books, landing them on best seller lists … because it became a “go-go-go” to her fans.
During my book touring days, I did all the biggies—from Oprah toGood Morning America; from a four page spread in People magazine to the Wall Street Journal to the National Enquirer. Each served its need.
If I was to pick one TV show that I could actually see a measurement of book sales it was from Donahue. As a guest multiple times, Phil Donahue not only probed into a book and the topic with a deep-dive, he wanted his guest to really get the theme and how-tos out. The day he held up one of my books and said on air, “Anyone who is thinking of getting married, this is the primer, get it …” was golden. When I guested several times on the woman and sabotage topic I pioneered, he asked, “Would you stay after the show and just talk with the audience, they want to talk with you?” clearly pushed the buzz forward. I can only imagine what it would have been if social media was alive then.
Although radio was my favorite because it was usually live and you had more time, print pushed books. Why, because readers would tear out the article and save it until they got the book. When I toured or did speaking presentations, attendees would show up with the article in hand.
Today, it’s social media. Not an 800 pound gorilla—it’s an 800 ton gorilla. And with most social media, here now, gone shortly. That means you duplicate and spread to any and all who keyword your keywords in their profiles. Authors must incorporate a vigorous social media strategy … and yes, there are publicists who are savvy in this arena. It’s a changing world.  No longer does an author have the option to say, “I don’t want to market my books … I just want to write.”



Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest,Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com.Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.


Monday, July 15, 2013

Book Marketing Myth #1: It’s Not for Me …

Really … If not for you, then who?  
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I need a “professional” to market my book
  • Who best knows it?
  • Who best has the passion for it?
  • Who best gets the agony and ecstasy?
  • Who best understands why your protagonist did what he did?
  • Who best can feel the desperation of a situation that you’ve become an expert in because of your personal experiences?
  • Who best …?

target marketing, pops up, it’s now.
is what too many authors think and say. Stop it. Reframe your thinking and your marketing strategies. Whoever put that out had to be a “professional book marketer” … its utter nonsense. Of course you can market, and should market your book.
YOU, that’s who. You may not have the perfect pitch down, but you will, with practice. Rethink, or “reframe” your position. Mostly likely, if you had your druthers, you would rather be writing your next book. I get that … and you can. Just not full time.  If ever the phrase,
What if your  book relieves someone from the doldrums of a slow day, a bummer of a situation, the  numbing of a commute or just tickles, entertains, thrills or has the reader marveling at the twists and turns, who best but YOU to let them know about the delights and hoots between the covers of your book?
What if your book delivers the answers to a problem or situation that is commonplace, or even not so common?
And what if you can explain why it is happening in a format that is easily grasped and then rollout the solution(s) in a one-two-three punch that the reader will do a happy dance to have at her fingertips?  
How did you get so smart?—I bet because you lived and experience it. You have a PhD in life, or maybe the educational degree … and you know the rollercoaster that you went through. Who best but YOU to let others know about the ins and outs and how to relieve the pain, or get healthy, or find balance, or …?
Author Book Marketing is about sharing and telling people about what you care about, what you are passionate about.
It is work, yet it doesn’t have to be the drudge of it all. When you know that your poetry touches the hearts of many and seeds their inspiration; when you know that words tickle the funny bone; when you know that your storyline delivers an aha and OMG experience; when you know that your how-to is exactly what a specific workplace needs; when you know that you’ve created a unique twist for something/anything that affects many … who best to spearhead the book marketing than you, the author?
When the author talks about their book, its marketing. People will listen.
Book marketing today is like going to cereal aisle at a grocery store—all six shelves of it and consuming a 60 foot row, packed with every imaginable type of cereal. Some for kids; some for adults; some hot; some cold; some created for specific diets; some loaded with eye-candy—ingredients to get the consumers taste buds salivating. A lot of “somes.”
Today’s book marketing grocery store is centered on the Internet. Marketing is about connecting. Finding those who want to hear your story; need your insights; or just want a good read.
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Your audience is clickable. They are hanging out on the Internet. The may be at a Meetup group around the corner or a coffee shop. They could be glued to a specific social media platform. They could belong to an association. They could be anywhere and everywhere. You can hire someone to find them … but to connect, it’s YOU. Book Marketing 101.  Bust the myth.



Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest,Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com.Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Literary Agents Looking for New Authors

Anyone looking for a literary agent should become familiar pronto with theGuide to Literary Agents, the bible for finding literary representation.


Over 500 agents are listed with specifics about who and what they represent best. It also includes tidbits on how to pitch to them.

In a recent issue ofWriters Digest, five literary agents were identified as looking for new authors in a variety of genres. Each of the websites identified include submission guidelines. All request that the first go around is via email with the query letter delivered within the email. All stated NO attachments. The five below are looking for “new” authors who haven’t been published with another publisher as yet.

Brittany Howard    Corvisiero Literary Agency

YA is her thing, from paranormal, fantasy to sci-fi and contemporary. Corvisiero is a boutique agency and she prefers that you paste the one to two page synopsis and the first five pages directly into the query e-mail. If you send any attachments, they won’t be opened.
http:www.CorvisieroAgency.com/ 
Margaret Bail – Andrea Hurst & Associates
Fiction, adult and looks at a variety: romance, sci-fi, action, adventure, historical. The agency represents both fiction and nonfiction, explore the site. Include your query in the body of the email.
http://www.AndreaHurst.com/
Samantha Dighton – D4EO Literary
Both. Her favorite categories include: historical fiction, mystery/suspense, magical realism, psychological thrillers, realistic YA and narrative nonfiction. Paste the first 10 pages in the body of the email, below your query letter.
http://www.D4EOLiteraryAgency.com/
Andy Scheer – Hartline Literary Agency
Both. He wants to work with authors who want to grow within the craft of writing, are disciplined and can tell a great story with characters that are memorable. For nonfiction, concepts and solutions presented in a unique way.  Hartline is primarily a Christian agency although it does represent the secular side and works with authors in the U.S. Submission page includes a proposal guideline as well.
http://www.HartlineLiterary.com/
For more news and information about agents, Check out the Guide to Literary Agents Blog the at http://ow.ly/mJSVS and get  a copy of the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents. Your local library will also carry the Guide to Literary Agents.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest,Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com.Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Publishing Predator Update … Hello Author Solutions … Hello Class Action Lawsuit






From the website of the law firm of Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart LLP:


On April 26, 2013, Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart LLP filed a lawsuit against Author Solutions. Authors using Author Solutions have complained of deceptive practices, including enticing authors to purchase promotional services that are not provided or are worthless and failing to pay royalties.

http://lnkd.in/KHAf2V

Author Solutions misrepresents itself, luring authors in with claims that its books can compete with “traditional publishers,” offering “greater speed, higher royalties, and more control for its authors.” The company then profits from “fraudulent” practices, the complaint alleges, including “delaying publication, publishing manuscripts with errors to generate fees, and selling worthless services, or services that fail to accomplish what they promise.”

It goes on to allege that Author Solutions fails to pay its authors the royalties they are due. A sentence that I’ve painfully heard multiple times.

http://www.gslawny.com/files/stamped_complaint.pdf

It's shocking to me that authors continue to sign up with this group when there is so much out there. Author beware. Stay away.



Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest,Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com.Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Author Alert: Is Your ISBN Legit or Fake?

Such a deal … buy your ISBN for only ten bucks … who wants to pay $125? The real questions are: are they legit ISBNs? Or, are they knockoff? Or, are they a re-sale? And if they are a re-sale, are they being sold by an approved resale outlet? Are they legit … or are they fake?



All authors in the United States need to understand this: ISBNs are ONLY ISSUED by Bowker … it doesn’t matter what name you get them through. And in fact, it may be a giant hiccup if you take this route. Bowker has the exclusive distribution rights in the U.S. … other companies have them in other parts of the world. Here’s what ePubBud.com and others like it do: they purchase a bank of ISBNS … you too, can buy 1000 for $1000 or $1 an ISBN (now, that’s a deal)—where single ones are sold for $125 via Bowker, 10 for $250, 100 for $500 and 1000 for $1000, etc.
Anyone can buy and then repackage and sell them as singles or multiples at, say $10. Supposedly, you must be in a “channel” arrangement with Bowker to do that. You think—”WOW—such a deal.” You should also be thinking and asking if you go this route, did they buy it was a partner of Bowker or was this a shadow deal?
They are making 10 times on their money—not a bad ROI for sure! … and get this: all those ISBNs are really listed as them—whoever sells them to you and originally purchased them—as the publisher … you see, ePubBud still owns them in their ID bank with Bowker … they have resold to you the perpetuity use of them. Technically, your book is connected to the ISBN via title, but maybe not as the publisher. Before you buy any of the “deals” check it out—determine if you get to register your book personally with the ISBN so that Bookscan picks up your retail sales.
My take … if you are a publisher, you should have a minimum of 10 ISBNs … better yet, 100. Why 100?–it’s cheaper for sure ($5 each) and if you really get the re-purposing side of just what one book can create—breaking it up into mini books, creating new books and products, etc.
I have one client who took his tome—published what we called the Mothership; then broke it into sections—created each in a POD format with corresponding eBook; and then took 9 other chapters in the book that stood alone-did the POD and eBook side—we morphed the cover just a tad—branding was there; created a new intro for each. One book = 15 books. He was amazed. He is selling. He is happy. He needed 15 ISBNs and bought 100, all registered to his own publishing company.
When my husband and I first started Mile High Press, we pulled down 100 ISBNs several years ago—we are now at #52 in use. And that was before all the action with publishing on the Internet. If I do what I plan to do, I will have to go for a second round of 100 soon.
Noodle here … what are your big plans … the Vision thing for your authoring and publishing? I’m appalled at the hooking up of Bowker with any “publishing” provider for profit such as iUniverse which it has just done, especially when there is controversy around it and its parent company, Author Solutions, a publishing predator. Right now, Bowker owns the game in publishing town and controls ISBNs. Who it officially allows to resell is another game and then those who just buy and resell and don’t give a twit if it’s official or not is yet another.
As always, its author beware.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest,Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com.Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.