| Surprisingly, book stores are not always your | | | | designer. |
| greatest source of book sales. Most authors and | | | | 9. Sell the benefits of your book on the back cover. |
| publishers do want their books to be available in all of | | | | That is where you will sell buyers on the reasons |
| the book stores, and rightly so. You want your book | | | | why they just can't live without your book. |
| to be there, too, but you want to sell more books. | | | | 10. Price the book competitively in your genre. |
| You want your book to be a "household name" - a | | | | 11. Make your book look like it is good value for the |
| topic of conversation in coffee rooms and at dinner | | | | price - it's all about perceived value in the minds of |
| tables everywhere. Your publicity campaign is | | | | the buyers. |
| designed to create interest in your book, and to | | | | 12. Don't write for yourself - write for the end buyer. |
| drive buyers to the book store market. | | | | Fulfill a need for them or make them feel better. |
| Unfortunately, those traditional book store sales | | | | 13. Think of the corporate market when you are |
| aren't always "sold". The books might be returned | | | | writing. Make a list of corporations that can benefit |
| over and over again. That's the sad reality of the | | | | from your book, and then contact them. |
| book retail industry. | | | | 14. Submit your book to the book clubs at least six |
| Your book's fame, however, can help you to acquire | | | | months before you publish. |
| nonreturnable sales in the nontraditional market | | | | 15. Find an agent who sells to the gift market. |
| where a sale actually is a sale - where sales of | | | | 16. Find an agent who sells foreign rights. |
| 25,000 copies and more are not uncommon. | | | | 17. Find an agent who sells to the display market. |
| Here are 19 Book Marketing strategies that will help | | | | 18. Don't be afraid to offer large discounts on |
| you acquire those sales: | | | | nonreturnable sales. |
| 1. Write your book for a very broad market - | | | | 19. Seek licensing agreements - they are a great |
| nonfiction works best. | | | | source of income for no work on your part. |
| 2. Write a book that people will be happy to give as | | | | A professionally designed book opens many doors |
| a gift. | | | | while an amateurish appearance closes many doors. It |
| 3. Add as many photos and illustrations as you can | | | | is vitally important that you invest in your book at |
| afford. | | | | the beginning to create sales in the long term. Plan |
| 4. Keep the topic light - avoid heavy social | | | | for publicity and marketing before you print your |
| commentaries, controversial topics, scientific theories | | | | books - printing is not the final expense in your book |
| and other "heavy" subjects. | | | | marketing plan. It is the beginning. You can have the |
| 5. Have your book professionally designed. | | | | best book in the world, but if no one knows about it, |
| 6. Have your book professionally edited. | | | | no one will buy it. |
| 7. Give your book a catchy name - avoid boring titles | | | | Create a book that buyers just can't resist -- and |
| such as How to Have a Happy, Fulfilling Life. | | | | then create a book marketing plan that makes those |
| 8. Make sure that the cover design is appealing, | | | | buyers BUY. |
| appears three dimensional and can compete with all | | | | © Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd. |
| of the major publishing houses. Hire a professional | | | | |