Issue #834 July 12, 2014
Publisher: Joan Stewart
“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”
In This Issue
- Ebook Promotion: A Marathon
- “Why I Write”
- 10 Book Marketing Mistakes
- Hound Video of the Week
I have a bad case of garden envy. My Garden Club has its annual Garden Walk today, with a chance to tour 5 stunning yards for only $5. Every year on the walk, I’m bummed when I see how creative the homeowners are with landscaping and plant selection. I return home to my Plain Jane yard and try to feel gratitude for not
1. Ebook Promotion: A Marathon
Thanks to a variety of tools and templates, publishing ebooks has never been easier. These days, you can crank one out in just a few days.
But selling it? That’s the hard part. The ease of publishing makes competing for people’s time, attention and money that much stiffer.
My friend, book shepherd Judith Briles, says book promotion is a marathon, not a sprint. That means you must always be promoting.
And that’s where most authors give up. If they haven’t sold several hundred ebooks in a few months, they think no one is interested. So they stop marketing, and start writing their next book.
Here are three secrets to selling ebooks:
–Knowing how to reach your niche.
–Proving value long before you ask for the order.
–Being very patient and willing to make money–lots more money–later on, by upselling people products and services they can buy from you AFTER you convince them to buy your $1.99-cent ebook.
Smart authors are always trying a wide variety of tactics and tricks to let people know about their ebooks. But where do you start?
Join me from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 17, for a one-hour webinar on “How to Promote Your Ebooks for Maximum Visibility and Sales.” I have ideas galore that have worked for other authors, and many of them aren’t as obvious as you might think.
If the time doesn’t work for you, register anyway because I’ll send you the video replay of the training within 72 hours, along with all the bonuses. Sign up now.
2. “Why I Write”
I love sharing interesting bios with you because if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to make yours even better.
Read blogger Norm Schriever’s bio and pay attention to how he weaves humor throughout the chronological milestones in his life.
Here’s the kicker. At the bottom, there’s a link to “Why I write.” It’s a simple list of 8 reasons. and the very best one is at the end.
Consider a similar list that you link from your own bio. Artists, why do you paint? Musicians, why do you jam? Coaches, why do you coach?
After reading Norm’s bio and “Why I write” list, I feel like I know him.
If you want more help spiffing up your bio, start with my “Special Report #46: Tips for Rewriting Your Boring Bio.” It includes examples galore of how other writers have had a ball with their bios. Only $15.
3. 10 Book Marketing Mistakes
I discovered Norm Schriever when I saw a link on Google+ to his blog post on “10 Book Marketing Mistakes Self-Published Authors Make.”
You hear me crabbing all the time about the third item on his list: “Not establishing a niche.”
I do a lot of phone consulting with authors. The first question I ask them is, “Who is the target market for your book?”
“Everybody,” some of them say.
That’s the red flag that the book is doomed to fail. If you wrote it for everybody, you must market to everybody, and that’s impossible.
Consider scheduling an hour with me to pick my brain about your next book, or PR campaign or a knotty writing problem. I can also help you brainstorm story ideas, critique an email marketing campaign you’ve created, or give you ideas on how to repurpose the content you’ve created.
Read more about how to work with me. When you’re ready, email me at JStewart@PublicityHound.com. If I’m not the best person who can help you, I will refer you to someone who can.
4. Hound Video of the Week
Thanks to my friend, B.L. Ochman of New York City, for this video of a little boy and his dog. It’s difficult to tell who loves who more. That’s why it’s gotten more than 6 million views on YouTube.
Share Your Two Cents