Omega

Ensuring the success of any book is something even the biggest publishers have never been able to guarantee, but with a good book, a little or a lot of money, and just plain hard work the odds are in your favor; many have done it.

If you’ve written a ‘how to’ book you’ll find people are always seeking ‘how to’ information making your book easy to sell; in fact the most sought after items on the Internet are information products. Whether you’ve just published a book or have a book that isn’t selling, now is the time to get to the marketing; start marketing aggressively today!

Make sure your press release spells out the ‘who, what, where, when, and why.’ Using press releases for marketing or promoting your book or book’s website has become increasingly popular as publishers discover the powerful benefits of using press releases to promote their books. Using press releases can be a very effective marketing tool if used properly.

When picked up by wire services, a press release can easily end up generating hundreds, or even thousands of mentions, via syndication, for your book. Send out at least 10 press releases to the print and broadcast media in your area every month. Press releases can generate thousands of dollars in sales when picked up by national trade or print media.

Don’t underestimate the value of a good press release for making book sales. Invest in press release submitting software and set aside time every week to send out a press release online to the press directories.

I’ve not found that book signings sell many books for publishers and are often a waste of time; better to spend it elsewhere. It’s important to publish a website that focuses on your title; you’ll be able to refer editors and customers and all interested parties to your book information with the click of a mouse. Find a non-exclusive distributor with a good reputation to carry your book for the book store trade, as well as for other retailers.

Contact non-bookstore booksellers and offer to leave books on consignment. Build a web site that provides another avenue for ordering, a virtual online press kit and link exchanges with sites that relate to your topic. Print and online publications provide longevity to your marketing campaign in terms of having something tangible for people to reference ongoing.

If your book fits a specialty market, find a store that fits the genre and offer to leave books on consignment; many publishers have sold thousands of books this way. Submit articles to online article directories that focus on your book’s topic to drive customers to your website. Contact any companies, corporations or organizations that might use your book for promotions; offer significant discounts for volume orders or for thousands of copies offer a specified amount above book production costs.

Make sure to promote and market your book each and every day, both online and offline. Place free ads periodically for your book’s website on Craigslist in different categories to drive even more traffic to your website. Market your book to your number one market first, and then go after the secondary markets.

Get as many testimonials about your book, as possible, from experts in the field relating to your title, not from your customers; use on your fliers and back of books. If your book solves a problem, focus on this in your marketing.

Make sure your sales letter or flier is first class; this is the formal presentation of your title to the prospective buyer. Women buy more books then men; see how you can fit your book into the women’s’ market.

If you apply yourself every day and you promote your book like crazy, you can achieve that ultimate goal of selling thousands of copies of your book, many self publishers have. The success of any book marketing effort depends on a good book and just plain hard work; its been done many times before and you can do it too. Use your book promotion and book marketing dollars wisely; go after the free and cheap resources daily.