In Part 1 of this blog series – How to Use Amazon Advertising to Sell More Books – we explored how Amazon is moving in the direction of pay-to-play advertising for authors in publishers. Now let’s move on to Part 2: How to Use Amazon Pay-Per-Click Ads Amazon’s Sponsored Product Ads, which allow you to […]
Did you know that the books you see on end caps and display tables at Barnes and Noble are sponsored by the publishers? That’s right; books featured are rarely due to the store employees choosing their favorite reads. The publishers pay a premium to get their top titles featured on the best real estate in […]
Each month, the Nonfiction Authors Association asks a burning publishing question of the industry’s best, brightest, and most innovative experts. Here’s what they have to say! NFAA: What strategies do you use to build your mailing list? MARQUINA ILIEV There are three main elements that I suggest authors use to build their mailing list. The first […]
If book marketing is overwhelming you, following are the absolute essentials to getting your book promotion efforts going. Pre-Launch (Ideally): Identify a powerful niche audience and where they spend their time. Create a professional author website with blog (WordPress). Update your blog at least 2x per week (frequency increases traffic). Set up email marketing (Constant […]
Traditional media has set, long-established rules about how to pitch newspapers, radio, magazine, and television sources. The world of online media, however, offers more flexible opportunities for pitching sources. Here are 5 strategies for pitching online sources to promote your book that will keep the phone calls and emails coming in: 1. Bloggers The good […]
Doctor asks questions to get information before making a diagnosis. Litigators ask questions of witnesses to build their cases. Journalists ask questions to generate information for their articles. Similarly, when selling to a corporate buyer, authors and publishers should ask questions to acquire information, exchange ideas, build their case, establish rapport and trust, and uncover […]
You write fiction. You are seeking readers. A zillion other authors are just like you, clamoring to find some new way to reach readers other than giving books away for free. Why not consider nonfiction as one of your tools? Every piece of reading material that crosses a reader’s path that isn’t fiction is nonfiction. […]
One of the most misused words in the publishing business is marketing. Some people think selling is marketing, but it is not. Others think publishing is marketing, but it is not. Marketing is a distinct business philosophy that, if understood and applied properly, can help your business become more profitable. There are four competing concepts […]
Nothing happens until something is sold. That has been the call to action for generations of salespeople. Every day independent publishers make marketing decisions that are designed to facilitate the sales process. We publish books, distribute, price and promote them to entice people to buy them so that we make a profit. However, the book-buying […]
The rise of social media changed the way writers promote themselves. We’re seeing non-fiction and fiction books being promoted on all platforms. Some of these campaigns are truly successful in terms of creating awareness. Others fail. Effective marketing is what makes the difference. You might be wondering: how do you effectively promote your book on […]
What You Need to Know Before Your Pitch the Media
I’ve been saying for years that though press releases have long been the standard way to pitch media, they aren’t always the best way. You should know that reporters, editors, and producers NEED story ideas. In other words, they need you as much as you need them. Yes, it’s perfectly okay to reach out to […]
7 Smart and 7 Dumb Reasons to Speak for Free
Should you speak for free? Yes – if you do it in front of the right people who are in the right room for the right reason… And along the way to answering this question in more detail, you’re also getting your 80-20 Speaking-as-Marketing strategy so let’s dig in… Research from professional services marketing firm Rain Today shows […]
Advice for New Authors from the Experts
Each month, the Nonfiction Authors Association asks a burning publishing question of the industry’s best, brightest, and most innovative experts. Here’s what they have to say! NFAA: What advice would you offer to new authors just getting started? JOANNE MCCALL New authors are filled with questions, particularly when it comes to promoting their books. “When […]
Member of the Week: Lois Farfel Stark, author of The Telling Image: Shapes of Changing Times
Author Name: Lois Farfel Stark Book Title: The Telling Image: Shapes of Changing Times Synopsis How do humans make sense of the world? Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Lois Farfel Stark, takes the reader on a remarkable journey from tribal ceremonies in Liberia and the pyramids in Egypt, to the gravity-defying architecture of modern China. Stark unveils […]
What You Need to Know Before Your Pitch the Media
I’ve been saying for years that though press releases have long been the standard way to pitch media, they aren’t always the best way. You should know that reporters, editors, and producers NEED story ideas. In other words, they need you as much as you need them. Yes, it’s perfectly okay to reach out to […]
7 Smart and 7 Dumb Reasons to Speak for Free
Should you speak for free? Yes – if you do it in front of the right people who are in the right room for the right reason… And along the way to answering this question in more detail, you’re also getting your 80-20 Speaking-as-Marketing strategy so let’s dig in… Research from professional services marketing firm Rain Today shows […]
Advice for New Authors from the Experts
Each month, the Nonfiction Authors Association asks a burning publishing question of the industry’s best, brightest, and most innovative experts. Here’s what they have to say! NFAA: What advice would you offer to new authors just getting started? JOANNE MCCALL New authors are filled with questions, particularly when it comes to promoting their books. “When […]
Transitioning to Paid Speaking
If you want speaking to become a revenue stream for you, start by getting as many free engagements under your belt as possible. Then begin reaching out to companies and conferences that need speakers. Professional speakers typically earn $2,500 to $10,000 and up for a keynote presentation, plus travel expenses. It can be a lucrative […]
Using Social Media to Engage Your Audience
We asked nonfiction authors, what is your favorite social media outlet and how do you use it to engage your audience? Here is what a couple of authors had to say: Leticia Mooney Twitter is still my favourite social media channel, despite how it has changed over the past 10 years. I use it to […]
5 Common Mistakes Book Covers Have That Can Harm Your Sales by Adelina Benson
Although you should never judge a book by its cover, that’s not to say that everybody does. When it comes to your book cover, this is the first thing people are going to see and will be the make or break as to whether a potential reader picks it up or walks on by. Designing […]
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