Best-Selling Book Secrets

By: Ben Needles

Everyone says, Some day Im going to write a book, but few actually do. So congratulations on a noteworthy achievement! Now that youre holding your book in your hands, after years of research, writing, editing and rewriting, the last words youll want to hear are, That was the easy part.

Well, unfortunately, that was the easy part. Unless you dont mind your only fans being family and close friends, or unless youre already a celebrity with a big publishing house behind you, your new challenge will be letting the world know about your book so someone will actually read (a.k.a. buy) what youve so laboriously created.

And the hard reality is that, in the madness of todays publishing environment, the onus for successful book promotion lies almost exclusively with the author.

Whether you fought your way through to a mainstream channel or decided to self-publish, whether youve written a self-help tool or a novel, odds are good that a publicist wont be calling you tomorrow morning with a jam-packed itinerary of book signings and television interviews. Some of you may have a little help if youre mainstream, but all of you will carry the lions share. So, where do you begin?

First of all, your book is no longer your baby, but a business and as with any business, you must have a Marketing Plan. Number One in your plan should be creating a website that will help facilitate everything else well cover in this article. If you already have a website (business or otherwise), add a banner headline announcing publication on your Home page.

If you dont have a website and/or dont know how to create one, Google how to create a website, and plenty of user-friendly links will come up. The point is that your website should showcase your book as the feature, and you should offer the book for sale right there. Sign up for a Pay Pal account, if you dont already have one. This is an easy, affordable way for you to offer buyers a means to pay with a credit card, and that feature alone will help drive more books out the door.

Next youll need to develop a Sell Sheet consisting of: a) a summary of your book in 50 words or less; b) an author biography in one paragraph; and c) your field of expertise and how that relates to your book (not always relevant with fiction). Then identify your Target Audience, the who you had in mind while you were writing.

If youve written a novel, will interested readers be male or female, young, middle-aged or seniors, action or romance devotees? If your book is non-fiction, are you targeting a certain business or profession? Do you already have a client or seminar base that will be a built-in market?

If you dont have a built-in base, what media outlets (radio, television, print) will help you build one, and which will be relevant and feasible? How do you get to Book Reviewers? (Reviews are golden, even if theyre not glowing, and reviews are mandatory for success. Without them, you dont get interviews, and the good ones become marketing tools.)

Each category and media market, by the way, can be easily researched via the Internet, and each will have to receive a Review Copy of your book. Once your target audience is clear, identify your books Position with a single sentence that explains why someone would want to buy your book over others in the same category. This is an extremely important element because, with every Review Copy you send out, youll have between 5 and 15 seconds to catch someones attention.

Finally (and youve probably figured this out already), you need to decide how much money youre able and willing to spend on your book promotion. Guess who buys all those Review Copies, for example? Youll also need business cards (focused solely on your book), bookmarks, Just Published posters, announcement post cards, travel expenses and so forth.

But before you send out for oxygen, this new challenge isnt as daunting as you may think, because the majority of Best-Sellers begin their successes locally. Your first contact wont be to the New York Times, but rather your local newspaper. Send a copy of your Press Release (similar to your Sell Sheet but a more familiar format to the media). If you Google how to write a press release, youll find a wealth of tutorials.

Then use a local author angle to approach the Manager or Event Coordinator in nearby book stores (small independent book sellers and big chains like Barnes Everyone says, Some day Im going to write a book, but few actually do. So congratulations on a noteworthy achievement! Now that youre retention your book in your hands, after years of research, writing, editing and rewriting, the last words youll want to hear are, That was the easy part.

Well, unfortunately, that was the easy part. Unless you dont mind your only fans being kinsperson and close friends, or unless youre already a celebrity with a big publishing house behind you, your new take exception will be rental the world know about your book so soul will really read (a.k.a. buy) what youve so laboriously created.

And the hard reality is that, in the madness of todays publishing environment, the onus for successful book promotion lies almost exclusively with the author.

Whether you fought your way through to a mainstream channel or decided to self-publish, whether youve written a self-help tool or a novel, odds are good that a publicist wont be calling you tomorrow morning with a jam-packed itinerary of book signings and television interviews. Some of you may have a little help if youre mainstream, but all of you will carry the lions share. So, where do you begin?

First of all, your book is no longer your baby, but a byplay and as with any business, you must have a Marketing Plan. Number One in your plan should be creating a website that will help facilitate everything else well cover in this article. If you already have a website (business or otherwise), add a banner headline announcing publication on your Home page.

If you dont have a website and/or dont know how to create one, Google how to create a website, and plenty of user-friendly links will come up. The point is that your website should showcase your book as the feature, and you should offer the book for sale right there. Sign up for a Pay Pal account, if you dont already have one. This is an easy, low-cost way for you to offer buyers a means to pay with a credit card, and that characteristic alone will help drive more books out the door.

Next youll need to develop a Sell Sheet consisting of: a) a summary of your book in 50 words or less; b) an source biography in one paragraph; and c) your field of expertness and how that relates to your book (not ever relevant with fiction). Then identify your Target Audience, the who you had in mind while you were writing.

If youve written a novel, will interested readers be male or female, young, middle-aged or seniors, carry out or coquette devotees? If your book is non-fiction, are you targeting a certain business or profession? Do you already have a client or seminar base that will be a built-in market?

If you dont have a inherent base, what media outlets (radio, television, print) will help you build one, and which will be crucial and feasible? How do you get to Book Reviewers? (Reviews are golden, even if theyre not glowing, and reviews are mandatory for success. Without them, you dont get interviews, and the good ones become marketing tools.)

Each category and media market, by the way, can be easily researched via the Internet, and each will have to receive a revaluation Copy of your book. Once your target audience is clear, identify your books Position with a one conviction that explains why person would want to buy your book over others in the same category. This is an super important element because, with every brushup Copy you send out, youll have 'tween 5 and 15 seconds to catch someones attention.

Finally (and youve plausibly figured this out already), you need to settle how much money youre able and willing to spend on your book promotion. Guess who buys all those Review Copies, for example? Youll also need job cards (focused solely on your book), bookmarks, Just Published posters, annunciation post cards, travel expenses and so forth.

But before you send out for oxygen, this new challenge isnt as daunting as you may think, because the majority of Best-Sellers begin their successes locally. Your first contact wont be to the New York Times, but rather your local newspaper. Send a copy of your Press waiver (similar to your Sell Sheet but a more familiar spirit format to the media). If you Google how to write a press release, youll find a wealth of tutorials.

Then use a local writer angle to approach the Manager or Event Coordinator in nearby book stores (small independent book Peter Sellers and big iron like Barnes .

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