Hedge Funds for Dummies came out in 2006, so I’ve been selling books for eight years already. Yikes!
I just completed the 30 Day Book Marketing Challenge, and the last assignment is to write a post about book marketing and the challenge for a participant blog hop. Here’s my advice to authors, general comments about marketing books, etc.
First, it helps to have a strong brand name. Wiley, and IDG before, has done an amazing job of promoting the Dummies brand. People buy the books because they know they’ll get the information that they need, and the editors know how to work with authors to turn out great books. For the life of me, I don’t understand why more publishers don’t have brands that stand for something, and not just for series books. Why aren’t there strong imprints for biography, for example, so that if you were trying to decide between two or three different books, you’d have some clue about their style and content? Can you tell me the difference between books from Random House, Simon & Schuster, or Scribner’s?
This, of course, means that authors have to become their own brands, which is tough if you are not naturally inclined toward sales and marketing. A big part of the Book Marketing Challenge is sharing information about how to use the book itself as a branding tool for a consulting and education business. That’s not my thing, but it may work for other people.
Because – no one knows what works! I know a fiction author who is often held up as a marketing genius who more or less fell into his promotional style. He was playing around with online video, and it caught on. Does that mean online video is the solution? Or Twitter or Facebook or whatever? For some authors, absolutely. For others, who knows?
I tend to do a lot of radio and a lot of blogging, because I like doing those things and can work them into my schedule. I accept speaking engagements when offered, but I don’t have the time or energy to go after them. So I do what I do to push the books while Wiley does what it does to promote the Dummies brand. Together, it’s worked well.
Authors are responsible for their own promotion. No one is entirely sure what works and what doesn’t. The key, then, is to figure out what works for you – but to make sure that you do it.
(So, yes, I do guest blog posts if you are looking for some, and radio shows if you need a talker. Let me know. If you want me to speak in person, we can discuss terms.)
Great point about branding, Ann! Can’t beat that! Thank you for the advice 😉 Best of luck!
Hi Ann: Nice to meet you on D’vorah’s blog hop.
I, too, enjoyed the Book Marketing Challenge. My circumstances are far different than yours. I chose to self publish my chocolate travel book because I wanted to created a series of books that are uniquely ME and not part of a corporate template. Been there, done that, on previous books I’ve been involved with that were work for hire arrangements.
It’s a heck of a lot more work than I anticipated, but I must admit. I’m enjoying the ride!
That’s a very interesting observation, Ann, about why recognizable brands for books. I’ve never thought about that before. I agree that the key is what works for the individual; one size doesn’t fit all in marketing.
Ann~ I like that you started right off with branding. And my understanding of branding has been expanded, now to implement it on multiple fronts, virtual, in person, on the screen and in print..Wishing you great success.
I agree that we all need a brand. You were fortunate to have yours come with your book automatically. Good luck to you.
Thanks for your post, Ann. Your site looks interesting and I’d like to come back sometime and explore when there’s more time. (I live in S.Africa and it’s nearly bedtime!)
Blessings!
I would absolutely love it if you would do a guest blog for me on college admissions and costs. So many parents do absolutely nothing until the high school senior begins to decide where they really want to go and the choices are often times impossible. Thank you for your candor and for sharing the journey. I will more than likely still make some mistakes and as you so well point out…some things will work and others won’t.
Hi, Ann, Thanks for sharing. What types of radio do you do? I’ve been on some shows, mostly through BlogTalkRadio. Let me know if you’d like to guest blog on my site!
From the BMC Blog Hop! If you put up your FB series or author page, I LIKED yours and would appreciate a reciprocation: https://www.facebook.com/TheSpannersSeriesbySallyEmber or a FOLLOW:http://www.sallyember.com Best to you!
Hello Ann,
It reads as though you know what you want and steadfastly blend with it. Thank you for the great advice on various marketing strategies.
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Have a great day.
Ann, thank you for your valuable information. That’s one of the best pieces of advice … branding. Might be a good topic for D’vorah to include in her next Challenge. FYI I was hired by IDG years ago as an editor in Foster City, CA. I ended up not going through with the hiring process for various reasons, but I respect their work and own many of their books. I wish you all the best on your writing journey.