Marketing

How to Set up Your Book Display Table at Speaking Events

By Athena Dean
The first time I spoke at a women’s group, they asked me if I wanted a table in the back of the room to display and sell my book.
I had no idea how to display my book in a way that beckoned potential customers to the table. I just laid out my books [...]

Book Sales, Marketing

5 Essential Elements of a Quality Sales Brochure

A quality sales flyer or brochure that promotes your book can help you make that important first impression among prospective book buyers.
Unless you’re a graphic artist, it’s best to avoid designing your brochures yourself, photocopying them on inexpensive colored paper, or hand-folding them (which results in crooked folds). If you want to be taken seriously, [...]

Marketing, Publicity

The Role of Advertising in Book Promotion

By Adam Cothes
Advertising is one way to connect your message to your reader. With so many advertising options, it can feel daunting to consider. I suggest starting early and taking it slow. Make any advertising you do part of your larger promotion plan.
If used in a targeted way, with repetition, advertising can be an effective [...]

Book Sales, Marketing

Do You Have a Business Card For Your Book?

Business cards are an absolute must if you’ve got a book in print.
In order to keep your topic/ministry in front of people all the time, you should constantly be passing out your business card to everyone you meet. Remember, the person you give the card to may not be interested in purchasing your book, but [...]

Marketing

How to Market Your Book With Stickers

The first time I heard about the idea of putting a sticker on the front of my book that said, “Great Gift Idea,” I got really excited.
It put into action the idea I have always had: the person perusing your book may not be a prospect… the message might not be for them… but they [...]

Marketing

Marketing Materials: Postcards, Bookmarks, and Covers

About 18 years ago, Better Homes and Gardens did a survey regarding the effectiveness of postcards. They learned that 16 people read every postcard that goes through the mail. That is 15 more people than the one person the mail is sent to… what does that tell you?
Mailing out an offer in the open, rather [...]

Marketing

Package Yourself Like a Pro

Great technology is available for ensuring that your book’s marketing materials are not only well-designed, but printed in high-quality color.
Package yourself like a pro by taking the following steps:
1.  Determine your marketing material needs:

Sales or informational fliers
Post cards
Business cards
Brochures
Bookmarks
Media kits

2.  Write compelling copy for each piece.
3.  Include ordering or contact information for:

Phone (toll free if [...]

Marketing

You Need a Professional Photo for Your Book Jacket

By Laura Christianson
Reprinted with permission
You’re a confident, professional businessperson. Then why are you featuring a grainy, five-year-old picture of yourself on your Web site?
If you’re serious about connecting with clients and want to show the world you mean business, you need to invest in a professional photo of yourself.
It’s less painful than you might imagine [...]

Marketing, Publicity

Want to Sell Books? Think Like Your Reader

People are selfish. Most don’t really care why you wrote your book; they want to know is what is in it for them.
So… think like your reader. Your busy reader. If you meet someone in an elevator, you don’t have 15 minutes to tell them about your book. You need a sound bite… a “bottom [...]

Marketing

What Problem Does Your Book Solve?

In last Monday’s marketing post, we discussed:

zeroing in on what your message offers the reader
the importance of articulating the benefits in your back cover copy and other sales materials

To emphasize this step in another way, let’s ask the question: What problem are you solving for your reader?
Readers are tired of trite, superficial answers to life’s [...]

Marketing