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Publication Marketing For Victory There are several different things you can do to help sell your book/periodical. Below are several sales strategies that you can use for any type of book/periodical. Sound marketing strategies work for any subject, format, or genera - fiction or non-fiction. While Gregath has made it's name with genealogy and history, these are valid promotional tips and ideas for any project. Remember - every decision you make about your book, from outline and font choice, to binding type, website, retail and traditional "marketing" all impact books sales and how you will "market" the work. Paid
Advertising |
"Free" Advertising/Networking |
Website | Direct Mailing
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Marketing is promotion! To promote a book, many things should be pointed out such as:
These are all selling points. Don't overlook something that is positive because it wasn't the main publishing focus. For instance, archival quality (permanent paper) is a much talked about and sought after element in reference book publishing. Even if this was not a high priority for the author personally, it may contribute to sales - but only if it is publicized. Get the word out...Basic, low cost, options to include in your publishing plan that will let people know the book is available include formal copyright registration, obtaining a library of congress number, and getting an ISBN. These are more things that are sometimes overlooked, or even considered unnecessary in genealogy.
Paid Advertising: If you have other suggestions, please feel free to contact us.
When the book is completed, advertisements which state the total number of pages and an increase over the pre-publication price should be placed in target media. Price setting is entirely up to the writer and may be noted in later advertisements. Some newspapers may still have “personal” columns which are usually widely read. Sunday editions are the most popular. They are usually sold on a “per word” basis and are more reasonable than the display type advertising. Depending on the type of book you publish, this can be an effective avenue.
Direct Mailing: If you have other suggestions, please feel free to contact us.
Perhaps important data from some of these persons will be included in the manuscript and they will be a potential buyer. A mailing list may be prepared in many ways and the writer must choose a method most efficient for his sales campaign. Some authors prefer to hand address each mailing. However, a proven time saving method is the use of pre-addressed self-adhesive labels, either copied or computer generated.
Write your sales tool
to fit your needs. The sales postal card may have a
unique place in your sales campaign. It is the least costly
of all your sale efforts. It is also the hardest to write
because of it’s size. Write whatever it is you wish to
advertise. Then, edit down the material to the size of a
postal card. Library and society sales require special
attention and consideration. When libraries and societies
purchase the book, it eventually becomes available to many
interested persons and may increase sales. Most libraries
and societies order with a request for two copies of the
invoice. Payment may be delayed several weeks due to
necessary processing required by most tax supported and non-taxed
organizations. You may choose to have matching stationery - including cards, invoices, inserts, etc. This provides you and your project(s) visibility and product recognition. If you incorporate your project(s) into your stationery and add a card or bookmark to all correspondence, you never know what interest you may pick up.
More Ideas click here for free/inexpensive: If you have other suggestions, please feel free to contact us.
Press Kit Element Checklist (choose what works best for your work):
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the term used for "getting people through the door" from search engines. You can do some of this yourself fairly easily, but it can get in depth and can grow to taking a large chunk out of your time resources. As search engines change and grow, SEO does as well. Look to cover the basics:
After that, devote as much or as little time as you wish. The determined visitor will find you if you've done your basics. For more in depth work, SEO companies are willing to do this work for you.
To recap, magazines and newspapers, paid display and classified advertising; magazine and newspaper coverage, non-paid newspaper personal columns, news releases, letters to specific columns and editors; Postal Sales Tools, postal cards, flyers/sell sheets, tear sheets, letters, brochures, etc., have been mentioned. The writer must choose his advertising campaign(s) wisely. The author must select the type of advertising, which will net the most sales for the least amount of expense. A well planned sales campaign must be flexible to the extent that if one method of advertising is not successful, there are finances available for another method to be attempted. If advertising placement is well selected, the results in sales should outweigh the cost.
Paid
Advertising |
"Free" Advertising/Networking|
Direct Mailing For more suggestions
on this subject and more, order our book: > Home Page >
Book Preparation Tips > Marketing Page Last Updated: January 02, 2012 |
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When marketing a book, try to keep all of your author produced material to a
general theme concerning format. This might include choosing a paper/card
stock color, keeping the major amount of your fonts the same (many even make
sure it matches the book). You may even choose a "theme" (ready made
design - often involving graphics) from a website, word processor and/or publishing program and carry it
throughout. Like any large retailer, this "small stuff" will help build
what is called Name Brand Recognition. When they see the envelope or
postcard in the
mail, they know without even looking it's from you. If they see a flyer
they know it's about the book without reading it. Many "repeat authors"
even carry the first book design marketing format over to other projects. Some keep the exact same
design format, others change one or two elements such as color or headline font.
Display advertising can
work to ones advantage. National
advertising is well worth the effort and cost. A one column, one inch long
display advertisement in a genealogical magazine that is circulated nationally
or internationally will usually bring a good response. Depending on your
target audience, display advertisement has been known to bring more interest
than the same information placed in the classifieds or even marketplaces.
Advertising rates are usually published in each issue and can vary greatly from
publication to publication. The same advertisement may be placed in target
newspapers and topical (genealogy, Civil War, hobby, geographically targeted,
etc.) magazines. 
Sales letters (and/or
If you are planning a
softbound book, check to see if your publisher can produce a few hardbound
(preferably ALA certified). Then offer this option as a "special
order" feature to libraries. Many will prefer to spend more on a
hardbound book then have to get it hardbound once it has been purchased.
