One of the hardest things to do is to maintain your author platform while also finding time to write. Thankfully, a number of proven methods exist you can use to automate your book marketing and free up more of your time for writing. Today I’ll share three of my top methods to boost your author profile automatically. This gives you more time to devote to your … [Read more...]
Why Most Books Fail
Why isn’t your book successful? My good friend Joan Stewart spoke on a publishing seminar on a cruise ship recently hosted by my other good friend Judith Briles. Joan reported several reasons why books don’t sell: 1. No platform. 2. Giving up too soon. Let’s look at these. If you call one more reporter, respond to one more PR LEAD or send out one more … [Read more...]
Increase your Marketability by Getting Published in your Area of Expertise
Marketability = Market Value Perhaps it's more accurate to say…marketability = perceived market value. Take a house for instance. Its "base" market value is established by several factors — the condition of the home and land that it’s on, what other homes are selling for in the area, and proximity to schools, stores, libraries, etc. There are also a lot of intangible … [Read more...]
Authors Do the Craziest Things
When writing and marketing your book, creativity is a necessity, but sometimes an author can go too far. While authors may be proud of being unique or even eccentric, they will want to avoid stepping over the line into crazy. Hundreds of experts are out there writing, blogging, and speaking about what authors need to do to promote their books, but sometimes, authors need to … [Read more...]
Essentials In Building An Author’s Platform
What's the common denominator in measuring the success of any profitable author? One word: Platform. An author's platform is basically an author's group of fans. These are the people who will likely buy anything that the author writes or creates. These folks often look to the author as a thought leader and closely follow suggestions, advice and recommendations made by the … [Read more...]
I Love You, I Love You, I Love You…Now Publish Me!
A few months ago I had a phone call. It went like this: "Michaelbrent! Hey, it's John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.*" "Hey, JJJS," said I. 'Cause that's how I roll, baby. "What's up?" "Not much," he said. "Hey, I know we haven't talked in about five years, but thanks for sending me an update every so often." "Welcome," I said. I am pithy that … [Read more...]
Food for Thought: Inspiring Authors to be Tastier
Coffee, Tea, or Water? What’s the first question you get when you sit down at a restaurant? What would you like to drink? What is the first question you get as an author by everyone you meet, “What is your book about?” Every author needs a 30 sec. elevator speech, or talking points. Make these points simple and clear. What is your book really about? While you are thinking … [Read more...]