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My Favorite Books on Book Marketing and
Book Promotion All Authors Must Read
By Scott Lorenz
President
Westwind Communications
I’ve read dozens and dozens of books on book marketing
and usually have found a morsel or two of useful information in each one. As a
book publicist and book
marketing guy it’s imperative for me to keep up with all of the great books and
magazine articles being published on the topic of book marketing.
Here’s a list of my favorites. By the way, I’ve personally
met or have spoken to nearly every author and can attest to the veracity of the material
they present and their credentials to discuss these topics.
To use a cliché, Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing
for Authors by Steve Weber is a page turner. As a book publicist always looking
for new angles to promote my client's books, I could not wait to read the next page
because there was so much good information about online
book marketing on every single page. It’s all presented in a useful format complete
with the 'why' and 'how to.’
For instance, Weber discusses the awesome power of Amazon
and its various nooks and crannies. He unveils various Amazon features that can help
authors sell more books. He states that Amazon 'reader reviews' are more important than
ever -- perhaps even rivaling a major newspaper review. The reason? Amazon reviews can
be read for years by hundreds of people and a potential buyer is just one click away
from purchasing your book. He says "Amazon is 'ground zero' for your online campaign.
It provides free worldwide exposure to those readers most likely to buy your book."
Weber also suggests numerous online resources as well
as how to create an online blog tour and using social networking sites such as My Space
to promote your book.
Every author will want to read "Plug Your Book" again
and again to learn how to successfully use all of the online tools available to "Plug
Your Book."
PyroMarketing. Book marketing professionals know
the secrets of success that drove the sales of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life
to a chart-busting best-seller and Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” into a huge
cinema phenom. Those of us in the business understand that sales of both blockbusters
were driven by techniques outlined in a book called PyroMarketing by Greg Stielstra
who gained fame in book publishing circles when he served as the marketing director
for The Purpose Driven Life, the best-selling hardcover book in history.
PyroMarketing embraces an idea that really has been
in use for some time – niche marketing. That tool is well-known and used every day by
book promoters but Stielstra lays out the niche marketing principles with a new, crystal
clear message that is so compelling that it is a must-read for anyone who wants to promote
an idea, service or product. Read my in-depth review and watch a short entertaining
video on the concept at: www.westwindcos.com.
Buy it at: www.pyromarketing.com.
The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion
with a High-Tech Twist
This is an excellent “how to” book on the ins and outs of online book promotion and
publicity focusing on the latest technology. Author Patrice-Anne Rutledge is a bestselling
author, successful technology journalist, and online book promotion expert who has utilized
online marketing techniques extensively to promote her books and writing career. Patricia
plows new ground filling the gap in the book promotion marketplace with her highly focused
book on bringing technology to the forefront in a book marketing campaign. “Web-Savvy
Writer” is a MUST read if you want to utilize the most cost effective and viral methods
in promoting your book like blogs, pay per click advertising, online reviews, ezines
and more. After reading a few chapters you’ll soon realize what you don’t know about
online marketing could fill volumes. She’s truly brilliant. Buy the online version of
the book as it has hundreds of clickable links at:
www.websavvywriter.com
John Kremer’s “1001 Ways To Market Your Books”
His 6th Edition published in 2006 describes more than 1000 ideas, tips, and suggestions
for marketing books – all illustrated with real-life examples showing how other authors
and publishers have marketed their books. John, who is a walking encyclopedia about
book marketing says, “Eighty percent of all books are sold by word of mouth, but it’s
publicity that primes the marketing pump. Remember that you cannot do everything, so
hire the right persons to do the things you can't do. If you're not comfortable doing
your own publicity, then hire someone who does it for a living." I could not have said
it better. Be sure to check out his seminars on book marketing held around the U.S.
too. Find out about that and his book at: www.bookmarket.com
Author! Screenwriter! How
to Succeed as a Writer in New York and Hollywood
I always enjoy talking with Peter Miller, President, PMA Literary Film and Management,
Inc. He’s one of the “big” agents in New York City. Known as ‘The Literary Lion,’ he
has successfully managed over 1,000 books and dozens of motion picture and television
properties. From big names like Vincent Bugliosi to the “next big star” he’s had eleven
New York Times bestsellers and eleven produced films that he has managed or executive
produced. He likes to do “three book deals” once he gets a writer he likes. In addition,
he has a substantial number of film and television projects currently in active development.
He divides his time between New York and Los Angeles, and frequently tours the country
to speak at writers’ conferences and workshops. His insight into the publishing world
and Hollywood is priceless. Buy his book, but if you can see him in person do it and
tell him I said hi! www.pmalitfilm.com.
I strongly recommend the purchase of MAXIMUM EXPOSURE
Marketing System Book Marketing Training Program for Publishers and Authors by Tami
DePalma and Kim Dushinski. This is a very well written resource that teaches authors
all about marketing their book. For example they have a complete list of reviewers you
can send your book to, sample timelines, lists of distributors and much more. You can
stay on top of the changes in the market too as they keep it updated on their web site
and blog. Believe me, if it’s not in here it’s not important. Buy it at:
www.MX-TheMatrix.com.
Since understanding all of the money making opportunities
with your book can be a daunting task, I also recommend that you purchase Jim Donovan’s
How to Write, Publish & Sell Your Book and Turn it Into a Never-ending Money Machine.
His system will teach you the inner workings of the book business and how to leverage
your books so they generate substantial multiple streams of income long after they’ve
been published. Jim Donovan's books have been published in eighteen countries and are
being read by hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world so he knows what
he’s talking about. www.writepublishsellyourbook.com
Free Book! That’s right, Midpoint Trade Books,
a major book distributor has published an excellent handbook which features seven keys
that are important for independent publishers to understand and master. If you want
a quick read on everything you need to know about publishing, printing, editing, marketing
and distributing your book then this is the one. The importance of using a book marketing
professional is stressed by author Eric Kampmann, President of Midpoint Trade Books.
Says Kampmann, "Of course, there are many reasons why a book might become a success
or even a bestseller, but we believe that the single best investment for you is an effective
publicist." The 7 Keys To Publishing
Success can be downloaded at no charge at:
www.midpointtrade.com ( BTW, Kampmann published
OJ Simpson’s book “If I Did It” through his publishing company
Beaufort Books.)
Here’s a Very Expensive Book… but well worth
the price. Its called “The Insider’s Guide to Large Quantity Book Sales.” Quite
literally exactly what the title implies. BTW, we’re talking thousands of books
at a time! Do I have your attention? You’ll be very impressed by the insight
provided in the material about selling your book in large numbers. You have useful contact
information for book club buyers and more importantly how to pitch and position your
book for consideration. It also has sample contracts and agreements which are easily
worth hundreds of dollars in saved legal fees alone if you had your attorney draft the
documents. Written and published by the Jenkins Group Inc, this book is the result
of years of the author, Jerrold Jenkins, publishing and selling massive quantities of
books. If you are serious about selling large quantities of books and want the inside
tips from a publisher who does it every day, then make the investment and download the
book at: www.specialmarketbooksales.com
Author 101 Bestselling Book Publicity: The Insider's
Guide to Promoting Your Book--and Yourself. One thing about the book marketing and
book promotion business is that there are so many nice people in the business. I rank
Rick Frishman as one of the top publicists in the U.S. not to mention he’s a nice guy
too! His book, co-authored by Robyn Freedman Spizman and Mark Steisel, offers advice
and insight about every stage of the publishing world. Using testimonials and commentary,
this book lets authors, agents, and publishers alike show you the things you should
and shouldn't do in promoting your book. Buy it at
Amazon
Brian Jud’s “Beyond
The Bookstore” is a terrific book about selling your book to everyone else other
than a bookstore. I met Brian while co-presenting on a panel at a
Learning Annex seminar in NYC on the topic
of book marketing. I covered the topic of book publicity, he covered selling books.
Brian Jud says since more than half of all book sales come from outside bookstores it’s
important to target these markets. Mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart or Costco, gift
shops, airport stores, home-shopping networks, book clubs, libraries, network-marketing
companies, catalogs, associations, government agencies, corporations, educational markets,
retail stores and military branches all buy and sell books.
Brian walks you through creating a special sales plan,
where to find the people you need to contact to make your pitch. If you really want
to sell books outside the bookstore market then buy Beyond the Bookstore at:
www.bookmarketingworks.com
Book Marketing A-Z by Francine Silverman. More
than 300 authors, marketers and publicists, including yours-truly tell about their best
promotional strategies with regards to book marketing. You’ll undoubtedly find several
good ideas to implement. While you’re at it, check out Fran’s Book Promotion Newsletter
which for $7.50 a year is the best value in book marketing in the USA. Buy her book
here: www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com
There are many books out there on the topic of book
marketing, book publishing and just plain everyday business marketing in general. You
can read the ones I’ve described above but unless you want to spend days and weeks learning
about book marketing, you might find it useful to retain an expert on book marketing
or hire an experienced book publicist. I am sure that after you read two or three of
these you’ll seriously question the idea of self promotion.
Why? The reason is that today’s book market is extremely
competitive. The world is awash in books. Bowker
(The keeper of all ISBNs) says that in 2006 more than 291,920 books were published in
the United States, plus more than 250,000 published in the UK. How can Borders, Barnes
and Noble, Amazon, your local library or anyone else effectively sell or showcase that
number let alone the millions of previously printed titles? The answer: They can’t.
Furthermore, I do not recommend self-promotion, for
the same reason you don’t cut your own hair. You can do it, but it’s not going to be
that good. Book marketing and book promotion requires special skills and most authors
simply do not know how to market a book nor do they have the time or, more importantly,
the patience. A publicist develops and nurtures relationships with writers, editors
and producers so they trust us when we give them a story idea about a book or author.
The bottom line: While I do recommend these books
as a basis for understanding the book marketing and book promotion process a wise author
would be even wiser to retain a book publicist to market and promote their book. If
you come to the same conclusion please by all means give me a call!
About Scott Lorenz
Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a
public relations and marketing firm that specializes
in book marketing and author publicity.
His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC Nightly
News, The New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Washington
Post, Family Circle, Woman's World, & Howard Stern to name a few. To discuss how
Westwind
Communications helps authors get all the publicity they deserve and more call 734-667-2090
or email scottlorenz@westwindcos.com.
For more information visit www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com
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