All authors struggle with selling books, especially those who have no marketing background or experience. The biggest myth around publishing a book is that it will magically sell millions of copies and you can make millions of dollars as a published author.

If only it were that easy.

Here is the cold, harsh truth…

A book is only as successful as the author’s ability to promote it.

We have many authors that are absolutely killing it with book sales, and yet, we have others who are not. The only difference is effort, plain and simple.

Just because you publish your book and list it on Amazon, the world’s largest book retailer, it does not guarantee success or sales.

Here are 3 strategies that our successful authors use to increase sales. I have also included a downloadable cheat sheet listing 50 additional ways you can sell more books.

You can read the article and get the cheat sheet here:

Distribute a PRESS RELEASE which shares your story 

Share the story behind your book to capture the interest of journalists. Offer successes & failures, and the events that lead you to where you are now. Use a press release distribution service such as PRWeb or iNewsWire for a few hundred dollars to get your release in the right hands. Include your short bio and website URL.

PRWeb.com: Pricing ranges from $99 to $159 to $249 depending on requirements.

Publisher’s Tip: Keep track of the analytics during the posting of your press release. You should have access to the “pick-ups” report which will provide you with a listing of all the publications that pick up and post your press release on their websites. Once you have this information, go to the website that picked up your announcement and take a screen shot. With this information and the images, you can now legitimately highlight and claim your work “as seen in…”

For example, Robbin Simons, as seen in Yahoo News Moneywatch.

Host a BOOK SIGNING or READING EVENT

Making connections with your readers online is fantastic, but there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings at live events.

Many independent book stores offer the opportunity for authors to host a book signing or reading event in their store locations, oftentimes for a small fee. The rules and services provided can vary from store to store, but the typical book signing event can cost anywhere from $300 – $500.

Publisher’s Tip: Don’t do this alone! You will want to have someone with you to assist with the set-up, ensure the customers are being taken care of while you are engaging with them during the signing and taking pictures throughout the event. Take lots of pictures!!

Seek out INSTITUTIONAL SALES and BULK PURCHASES

If your book would be a good fit for groups of people, businesses, or organizations, identify who the leaders of these groups are and find out how to reach them. Be sure your book description and your book website or landing page copy reflects the relevance to these targeted groups.

Publisher’s Tip: Use LinkedIn to find the most appropriate contacts for your target organizations or groups. Start by making a list of your target groups and then do a search for them on LinkedIn, specifically identifying the decision maker for your audience. It could likely be an HR Manager, Sales Training Supervisor, or Corporate Training Leader.

BONUS STRATEGY: By far, the easier and most underutilized strategy for making more sales is keeping a box of books in your car at all times. Our most successful authors are continuously talking about and selling their books wherever they happen to be – laundromats, play groups, grocery store line ups, Starbucks…

Talk to everyone you meet.

Tell them you are a published author.

If you are a best-seller author, like all of ours, tell people you are BEST-SELLING author, too.

Be an advocate and an evangelist for your book!

I hope you will use some of the strategies I mentioned in this article, but just in case you’re looking for more ideas, I’ve created this simple downloadable cheat sheet just for you:

CHEAT SHEET: 50 Ways to Sell More Books

 

 

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As entrepreneurs, we work very hard to attract people to our work. Your own book, if strategically written and positioned, is the number one thing you can create to get more clients, increase your visibility, and become the “go-to” trusted source and adviser in your field.

When is the best time to publish?

I get asked this question by every author I work with. The answer is vastly different depending on the genre and the results you are seeking for your book.

According to recent industry data, more than half of retail book sales in the US occur only a few months before the Christmas holidays, between September and December. This a perfect time for launching and promoting your book if it is one that fits into the general interest or fiction categories.

What this means for Entrepreneur Authors

While planning a November-December book launch may seem logical in order to take advantage of holiday shopping and pre-Christmas sales, the Entrepreneur Author should consider a more strategic approach – one that aligns their business for list-building and leverages the momentum created during promotional, “best-seller” campaigns.

By launching a book in the early Fall, the Entrepreneur Author is then well-positioned to utilize their book for an essential list-building campaign that should occur one to two months ahead of an end-of-year program or product launch. This is where the BIG money is!

As well, a September or October book launch can accomplish much more than list- building for your business and just a few hundred dollars in book sales, such as:

  • Establishes your personal reputation as a top-tiered expert
  • Elevates your professional brand recognition
  • Creates incredible business momentum, which drives more leads and inevitably, more sales

Market-Research

How to leverage this critical timing to get more speaking engagements

Also important is the increased visibility a book launch can create, (particularly if the book becomes a best seller) enabling the author to leverage this success to obtain speaking engagements for 2017, which are being booked between now and the end of this year, in most cases.

Creating this much visibility and momentum so early in the 4th quarter also positions you as a much more attractive speaker going into the next year, especially if you are fortunate enough to attain the “holy grail” of book publishing….”Best Seller” status. To date, 100% of my clients have become Amazon Best Selling authors, the majority climbing to the #1 rank. These are the types of Entrepreneurs who are sought after speakers for live events, podcasts, media and article interviews, and more.

At this very strategic time of year, event planners, conference coordinators and summit organizers are hard at work seeking out and booking high quality, industry experts for their events. Being a published author – especially a best-selling author – will get your foot in door, if not standing on their stage.

How YOU can get your book written and published THIS Fall

Your book, when strategically structured and positioned, has the potential to become the ONE ESSENTIAL tool that helps you create a 6-7 figure business.

For many authors, especially first-time authors, writing can take months and sometimes even years – especially if you are attempting this journey alone, without guidance, support, or a proven strategy for creating the momentum you need.

Now is the time to set yourself up for a successful Fall promotional period. Get your own lead-generating book done quickly and in time to take full advantage of this golden time of year!

 

Learn More here

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