Promote and Sell your book

Is a Book Really a Book if No One Reads It?

Ok, so, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I think you get my point. You need to promote and sell your book.

Let's face it, what good is your book doing anyone sitting on a dusty old shelf? It certainly isn't doing you any good financially and without readership, all of that important information you slaved on for months is simply lost.

Many authors make the mistake of thinking their book will just sell itself, that it will be so good people will buy it in droves. Sure, nice thought, but as I like to say, back here on earth, even great books and authors need to be promoted.

Did you notice that I also said "authors" need to be promoted? One of the biggest misconceptions authors have is that only their book is important, that it speaks for itself. Wrong! Part of selling your book is selling yourself.

Don't believe me?

Think about the last time your went into an electronics store to buy something for example. More than likely, you had a few salespeople vying for your attention. Did one stand out more than another? If so, why? Was it because he or she dressed nicer than the rest? Partially. Was it because they were knowledgeable? Of course. What about their personality? Were they pleasant, friendly and empathetic to your needs? More than likely. The point here is that the piece of equipment itself was only a part of the reason why you eventually bought the item. Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely a huge factor in your decision to buy something, but the person selling it to you is ultimately the one who makes you feel good about your purchase for months to come.

The same holds true for first-time authors trying to sell their book. If you are personable, approachable, friendly, available and knowledgeable about your subject, people will be more inclined to buy your book, even if they have no idea what it is about.

Sell yourself, sell your book.

So, creating a good self-image (a marketable image) is one step you will need to take in order to promote and sell your book.

What next? Well, this is a subject that is near and dear to my heart.

If you have read my bio on the About Us page, you will know that I spent much of my career promoting and selling people and their products. Over the years, I have researched the subject thoroughly, taking a good look at what works and what doesn't, and I eventually developed a system that will take your book from a bunch of perfect bound ink and paper to cold-hard cash.

In short, I can teach you how to sell your book.

How to Sell your Book

One of the things I had to learn coming from an old-school sales and marketing background is that the world is changing and with the Internet, those changes are happening at lightening speed.

In order to be successful and sell your own book, you too, must be adaptable and willing to change with the times. You need to find a way to promote and sell your book that will take into consideration the available technology and various needs of today's reader.

As you have probably guessed, the Internet has become an invaluable tool for authors. Where else can you write, promote and sell your own book to millions of people with little financial investment?

One of the most important things you can do to promote and sell your book is to establish a web presence. Get a web site up where you can let readers know who you are. Allow them to communicate with you. Develop a market where you can sell your own book.

A recent survey shows that 28 percent of all books purchased are now bought online. If you need help developing your web site, we are only a click away.

Another necessary step to promote and sell your book is to write a great press release.

Let the press know who you are. Offer a few freebies. Give away some of your books in exchange for reviews. Increasingly, local papers and radio stations are open to new authors. If you can find a link between your book and some local event or place, use it. They love it.

Post these reviews on your web site. Start a blog, let readers participate, feel like they are a part of your book. Agents and publishers read blogs, too!

If your book is in print only, develop an electronic version.

Offer your readers the opportunity to purchase your book as an eBook available immediately through a downloadable pdf. While this may not appeal to everyone, you would be surprised at how many people are turning to ebooks.

In fact, according to recent statistics, eBooks actually hold the largest area of growth within the publishing industry! In January 2006 alone, eBook sales skyrocketed by 50 percent.

These tips only begin to touch on some of the hundreds of ways you can promote and sell your book.

Throughout this section I will delve deeper into the subject and help you come up with unique and exciting ways you can promote and sell your own book.

In the meantime, be creative. Think about everything you and your book have to offer readers. And as you progress through this site, I will gladly teach you what I know.

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