12. Giving up on their book too soon. Like anything, book marketing takes time. I see authors all the time who start to grow impatient after a few months, wondering where their success is. How long will it take? That depends. But you might not be the best person to determine that. If you’ve been […]
11. Not having a website. When someone asks me if all authors should have a website, I respond: does your book need a cover? Every author should have a website and when possible get a domain name of your title so it can be a direct match to the content you are delivering in hard […]
10. Expecting immediate book sales. Often nothing happens immediately in book sales. The sales process for books can be lengthy, especially when you’re dealing with multiple reporting agencies. Most authors don’t know that places like Amazon, Baker & Taylor, and Ingram don’t all pay on the same timeframe. They all have particular cycles to how […]
9. Not having their work professionally edited. What kind of experience do you want to give your reader? If the answer is a great one (and it likely is) make sure the work you do on your book mirrors that. Your book is like your resume; not only that but it’s your reader’s experience of […]
8. Not hiring a professional to do their book cover. One corner you shouldn’t cut is on your book cover. Your cover is important because it’s the first impression your audience has of your book. Don’t shortcut your success by creating a cover that doesn’t sell. Find a graphic designer that works in the publishing […]
7. Not spending enough time researching their market. If you were going to open up a store in a mall, let’s say a bead shop, would you ever consider opening a store without doing the proper research? Probably not. Yet every day authors publish books and haven’t done market research. This research, while it can […]
6. Printing too many copies. In the event you decide not to do the print on demand route or get a small number of books printed with your print on demand source, there are several things to consider. If your research is giving you a clear direction that your topic is in demand and you […]
5. Thinking bookstores don’t matter. While it’s nice to think that most of us do our shopping online and via Amazon, bookstores (especially local stores) can really help or hurt your marketing efforts. If your book isn’t going into bookstores, then you’ll want to get to know your local area stores to see if you […]
4. Ignoring social media. While social media may seem confusing to most of us, it’s important to know that it can sometimes be a make or break situation when it comes to marketing your book. If you can’t make heads or tails out of Twitter vs. Facebook, then hire someone who can help you or […]
3. Not getting to know others in their market. Who else is writing about your topic? If you’re not sure, then you should do your research. Getting to know your fellow genre authors is not only important, but it can really help you with your marketing. How? Because most readers don’t just buy one self-help […]