AmberKallyn
February 18th, 2011, 05:13 AM
This is in no way comprehensive about the ‘how’, but I wanted to touch on the why.
Traditional: Traditionally, NY Publishers took on the advertising, marketing and promotion for the books they published. Over time, this has become almost nonexistent, and only for the books they think are going to sell really well.
If you aren’t marketing, it will affect your sales. NY contracts are slippery things. If your first book doesn’t do well, they may not renew your contract.
E-Publishing: As with NY, E-publishers are different sizes with different built-in readerships and methods of promotion.
E-pubs require even more self-promo. Now, if your first book doesn’t sell thousands immediately, they’re not going to dump you. But, they expect you to market yourself and slowly begin building your sales.
Self-Publishing: It’s all on you baby. There are resources out there that can get you started, but unless you have the money to hire a publicist, you’re going to be spending a lot of time and money on getting your name out there. It’s up to you to determine how much time you spend on promo, and how much on writing the next book. And never forget, your first job is an author. You can’t sell a product that doesn’t exist.
No one will be looking over your shoulder to make sure your sales are climbing. You have to do it yourself.
Marketing.
The word still makes me shudder. I’m a writer, not a saleswoman. Yet, if I want people to know my books are out there and to read them, I have to get the word out.
I love the saying you can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Luckily, readers devour books. It’s the leading them to your books that’s the hard part.
Keep in mind, marketing is not blasting emails to everyone you know -- or have ever heard of -- and letting them know your book is out.
It’s said that a reader must see your name at least 100 times to remember it. That’s just to remember, and doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll buy your book.
That means you have to be actively, constantly, getting your name out there.
No matter which way you publish your book, it’s going to fall on you to wear many hats other than just ‘Author’. If you want to sell books, and reach many readers, YOU have to promote yourself.
Some basic’s I’d definitely advise:
1) Network with other authors
2) Create an email signature with your website, 1-2 recent releases & buy links, a snippet or two of a review
3) You do have a website, right? This can be either a blog or an actual website or both.
4) Yahoo loops - reader, author, genre specific loops
5) Go where your readers are and be friendly
Marketing is also a mandatory thing to research. There are so many ways to promo yourself, only you will know the best way for yourself. This will take time, trial and error.
Above all, the thing I’ve heard the most, is don’t show up somewhere just to promo. Get online and show others who you are (or who your author persona is). Be nice, funny, witty... be a person. Not a salesman.
Anything you’d like to know that I haven’t touched on here?
Traditional: Traditionally, NY Publishers took on the advertising, marketing and promotion for the books they published. Over time, this has become almost nonexistent, and only for the books they think are going to sell really well.
If you aren’t marketing, it will affect your sales. NY contracts are slippery things. If your first book doesn’t do well, they may not renew your contract.
E-Publishing: As with NY, E-publishers are different sizes with different built-in readerships and methods of promotion.
E-pubs require even more self-promo. Now, if your first book doesn’t sell thousands immediately, they’re not going to dump you. But, they expect you to market yourself and slowly begin building your sales.
Self-Publishing: It’s all on you baby. There are resources out there that can get you started, but unless you have the money to hire a publicist, you’re going to be spending a lot of time and money on getting your name out there. It’s up to you to determine how much time you spend on promo, and how much on writing the next book. And never forget, your first job is an author. You can’t sell a product that doesn’t exist.
No one will be looking over your shoulder to make sure your sales are climbing. You have to do it yourself.
Marketing.
The word still makes me shudder. I’m a writer, not a saleswoman. Yet, if I want people to know my books are out there and to read them, I have to get the word out.
I love the saying you can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Luckily, readers devour books. It’s the leading them to your books that’s the hard part.
Keep in mind, marketing is not blasting emails to everyone you know -- or have ever heard of -- and letting them know your book is out.
It’s said that a reader must see your name at least 100 times to remember it. That’s just to remember, and doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll buy your book.
That means you have to be actively, constantly, getting your name out there.
No matter which way you publish your book, it’s going to fall on you to wear many hats other than just ‘Author’. If you want to sell books, and reach many readers, YOU have to promote yourself.
Some basic’s I’d definitely advise:
1) Network with other authors
2) Create an email signature with your website, 1-2 recent releases & buy links, a snippet or two of a review
3) You do have a website, right? This can be either a blog or an actual website or both.
4) Yahoo loops - reader, author, genre specific loops
5) Go where your readers are and be friendly
Marketing is also a mandatory thing to research. There are so many ways to promo yourself, only you will know the best way for yourself. This will take time, trial and error.
Above all, the thing I’ve heard the most, is don’t show up somewhere just to promo. Get online and show others who you are (or who your author persona is). Be nice, funny, witty... be a person. Not a salesman.
Anything you’d like to know that I haven’t touched on here?