| If you're like me, you have a book and the | | | | too:*Gather up the most popular, talked-about |
| passion to spend the rest of your life making | | | | books in the last five years (Harry Potter, |
| it a success. But, with all the ways to | | | | Da Vinci Code, among others). |
| market your book, the costs and the | | | | |
| inevitable sinking feeling of utter | | | | *Ask yourself, "What makes people talk about |
| helplessness, what can you do?You COULD run | | | | these books?" |
| around in circles trying to get your book in | | | | |
| every bookstore in town. You COULD write | | | | *Copy the strategies, change/add/delete |
| Oprah or the Today Show, and hope for a | | | | whatever you need to make your book more |
| call-back. You COULD spend months crafting a | | | | success-friendly.Also, create something (a |
| book proposal and wait another six months for | | | | flyer, a bussiness card, a bookmark, |
| the exact right time to send it to the exact | | | | something) that your customers can pass on to |
| right editor at the exact right publishing | | | | each other. Or post up on a wall or keep in |
| house with the exact right level of interest | | | | their purse or wallet. Make it good, funny, |
| to stand behind your book.But those are lies | | | | entertaining, informative, but make it |
| (well, for most of us, most of the time, they | | | | something people actually want to keep (like |
| are) and here are the TOP TEN LIES and how | | | | a good article on book marketing =).Lie #4: |
| you can avoid believing them:Lie #1: You NEED | | | | You MUST get radio or television |
| to get your book in bookstores.No, you don't. | | | | interviews.Like the other lies, this one |
| Visit your local bookstore-any bookstore-and | | | | seems true because all the big-name, |
| you'll see thousands (maybe millions) of | | | | big-book, big-salary authors do them. And I |
| books crammed, piled, stacked and displayed. | | | | must admit that we, if possible, should do |
| Do you really think that simply adding your | | | | them. But, the lie is that you actually NEED |
| book to this haystack will catapult you to | | | | them to boost your book sales. They might and |
| success?Truth: The right bookstore at the | | | | they might not.Truth: What you REALLY need is |
| right location selling the right kind of | | | | to get your book in the hands of people who |
| books to the right customers CAN catapult | | | | are ready, willing and able to buy them. How |
| your book to success. What is the right | | | | do you accomplish this? First, sit down and |
| bookstore? One that sells your kind of book, | | | | write out a description of the people who are |
| whether it be a Christian bookstore, a | | | | most likely to be interested enough in your |
| success store, a health store, etc. For my | | | | book to fork over money for it. Second, |
| book, "101 Ways To Pray Better And Get Faster | | | | figure out where these people congregate: |
| Results," I am targeting Christian bookstores | | | | online, conventions, magazines, etc. Where do |
| in my area, especially bookstores in | | | | these type of people go to find the type of |
| churches. They will give me the greatest | | | | information which is in your book? Be |
| amount of exposure to the people who will | | | | specific. Write it down. Third, and lastly, |
| actually be interested in my book. Who buys | | | | get your book infront of those people in |
| your kind of book? What is the best place to | | | | those places.For example: My book is on |
| sell it? Maybe it is at a grocery store, a | | | | prayer, so I want to get it infront of people |
| pet store, or at an airport.Lie #2: You MUST | | | | who are interested enough in the topic to |
| get on Oprah.Yes, it would be nice to get on | | | | trade thier hard-earned money to learn how to |
| Oprah. Certianly, it could not hurt your book | | | | improve their prayer lives and get closer to |
| sales. But most people with this goal ask | | | | God. So, in addition to attmpting the normal |
| themselves the wrong question: "How do I get | | | | routes (getting book in bookstore, creating a |
| on Oprah?" Getting on Oprah is not the point, | | | | website, trying to get book on Amazon.com), I |
| albiet a good objective, though a long-shot | | | | also will contact Christian groups and |
| for most authors. However, as a natural | | | | organizations to give FREE talks on prayer, |
| optimist, I must admit there's no reason for | | | | after which I'll offer my book.Lie #5: The |
| you not to try!Truth: The RIGHT question to | | | | MOST important part of book promtion is |
| ask yourself is: "How can I create a book | | | | having a good book.Sorry, no that is not |
| that Oprah would want on her show?" Why is | | | | true. Yes, you should try to write the best |
| this a better, more powerful question? First | | | | book possible and give it a great, |
| of all, it is focused on Oprah's needs, and | | | | eye-catching cover, with a mind-grabbing |
| she will only care about your book if it | | | | title to boot. But, none of those savvy |
| helps her and her show get more people | | | | stratigies are the MOST important part of |
| watching and talking about (you guessed it) | | | | your book promotion. They only work if you |
| her. After all, you want people to read and | | | | can do ONE thing...Truth: The MOST important |
| talk about your book, don't you? That's why | | | | part of book promotion is (drum roll please) |
| you're reading this article. Start with the | | | | getting the right people to experience the |
| right question, and you will end up the right | | | | great benefits of your book. If your book |
| answers. So how do you create a book that | | | | entertains, then that is the benefit. If your |
| will appeal to Oprah? Write one that appeals | | | | book explains or teaches, then that is the |
| to her television audience, mostly women who | | | | great experience.Who are the right people? |
| are at home at the time of her show. You can | | | | People who will tell others about your |
| get more detailed, of course, and you should. | | | | book.*What are the three MAIN benefits of |
| Case Example: the new book "He's Just Not | | | | your book? |
| That Into You." Oprah has had one of the | | | | |
| co-authors of that book on her show twice | | | | *Who should experience them?Lie #6: If you |
| since its release.Lie #3: You MUST get a big | | | | do all the things in this (or any one else's) |
| advance from a big publishing company.Again, | | | | article, your book will out-sell the Harry |
| good idea, but it doesn't guarantee succes | | | | Potter Series.Truth: The outcome of your book |
| anymore than carrying around a four-leaf | | | | promotion will be the result of your |
| clover ensures good luck. You need more than | | | | tenacity, creativity, passion, talent, and |
| big bucks to get people to read your book. In | | | | willingness to try new things until somthing |
| fact, the only thing that a big advance gives | | | | clicks. If you can do that, you will one day |
| you is the knowledge that the publishing | | | | succeed. And, my friend, I hope that day |
| company will try hard to make people buy your | | | | comes soon for you.If you enjoyed this |
| book. Yes, that's a plus. Yes, you want that. | | | | article, why not print it out and share it |
| But it takes more than that to squeeze into | | | | with a friend or your writing group! Good |
| the ranks with Stephen King, Dean Koontz and | | | | luck!Christopher Kokoski is the author of |
| Seth Godin (author of Purple Cow, among | | | | "101 Ways To Pray Better And Get Faster |
| others).Truth: What you really need is a good | | | | Results," His passion to write great |
| book, written well, formatted with the reader | | | | books(fiction and non-fiction) and help |
| in mind, that entertains, informs, pursuades | | | | others succeed with their own books. He |
| and gets customers talking to each other. No | | | | wishes you well and a quick rise to |
| easy job, I assure you. But it can be done. | | | | publishing success. |
| And is done. Here's how you can do it, | | | | |