Is Book Promotion Worth the ROI?

[Diane Eble]

Is anyone as disillusioned as I am about how much work it takes to promote a book, for what--$2 per book return? (Actually, I get less after my agent's cut.)

I don't know if anyone else has taken the Simpleology 102 course, but when I did, I had a major revelation just from Joyner's "Second Law of Money": "Money is created by entering Time, Energy, and Money into Systems. ... Some systems render better results than others. ... Many jobs are extremely inefficient ... you put in tons of Time and Energy, but very little money comes out as a result." Does this sound to anyone else like writing, publishing, and promoting books (for a few bucks' profit) is a rather inefficient use of Time and Energy?

Having a published book is wonderful, but I'm beginning to view it as a fancy business card. Unless there is a way to get people into my world (sign up for something) so I can begin a relationship which, I hope, would lead to them buying other more profitable products, book writing and marketing feels exhausting, with no guaranteed returns.

And you do have to market and promote--ceaselessly, it seems, or your book goes out of print. (As 10 of mine have.)

I hope I don't sound like a whiner. I think there are more opportunities than ever for authors these days. But it's BECAUSE there are more opportunities than ever to create income from other media besides books.

I'm just honestly examining reality and trying to figure out how to spend the limited time and energy I have. Anyone else feel this way? Do you agree that the answer is finding more profitable ways to monetize what you know?

[Sylvia Dickey Smith]

Oh boy, I can really identify with your frustration!! Ain't gonna get rich, quick, that's for sure. Gotta love doing it for fun, but not for profit.

Syl

[Kathleen Gage]

I think in many ways a book is a brochure on steroids. At least that is one reason I have books and some of my clients do too.

The value of the marketing and the ROI would depend on long term goals. If one is writing for the love of writing that is one thing. If, on the other hand, an author is also a consultant, speaker or business advisor, the book can enhance their market position.

The books I have and those of my clients are primarily business books. They can be sold in a number of ways including BOR, in bulk to client companies and at special events.

Kathleen Gage

[Diane Eble]

Yes, I'm seeing there are really 3 paths to publishing, depending on one's goals and what one loves to do. You can write lots of books (and if you're smart, other things as well), you can write a book as an adjunct of an existing business, or you can build a media empire. These end up being three very different publishing paths.

Diane Eble

[Carolyn Brackin Orr]

Diane,
I am just in awe of the fact that you have written ten (10) books. That alone should count for something.

[Roger Ellerton]

Hi Diane,

I suggest what makes a difference in successfully promoting a book is whether your focus is on selling books or on providing value to the consumer. In the later case, those who have purchased your books will be your best source for referrals and future sales.

Roger

[Ginger Simpson]

I share your feelings. The year my first novel was released, I spent over $3000, setting up a website, on promotional items like business cards, bookmarks, personalized pens, and keychains. I joined EPIC and took a trip to RT. I'm sure I've overlooked some of the things in which I invested to try to entice interest in my book and subsequent releases. I submitted my books to all the review sites I could find and consistently received fours and fives, even garnered a four-star review on my debut novel,l yet my royalty checks barely funded Happy Meals for two. I'm active in at least twenty-five loops, and member on many more, but I have to balance my participation to find time to write. . Up until recently I've done a monthly newsletter to which over 500 people voluntarily subscribed, and now I've switched to blogging. I'm running out of ideas. Luckily, I'm not in this for the money, but it would be nice to earn enough to cover my expenses. I just don't see a light at the end of this big, black tunnel. So, you aren't alone.

[Peter N. Jones]

Ginger,

I'm sorry to hear about your frustration. You should not have been put in the hole to get your book published (sounds like you went with a subsidy press - of which I've noticed there is nw at least one on this network). Also, doesn't sound like you got too good of a contract (two Happy Meals, come one, we are giving one of our authors a couple hundred dollars and they have done no promotion). Please don't give up. It takes time and in some cases years. If you are writing fiction, that is a tough road since your niche is not readily identifiable. But there are many ways...

I think marketing is a long-term time intensive project. It never ends. For example, why don't we know about your book? Why is there no link included to it in your post? What do you mean by "loop"? Marketing on the internet (beyond the brick-and-mortar stores) requires several techniques, all of which take time but not too much.

___________________________________________
Director and Editor: Bauu Institute and Press
Publisher: New Great Books
Editor: Indigenous Issues Today

[SusieSunshine]

I believe that Ginger is in the same boat as I am: wearing allllll the hats!!!!! This is almost impossible. One can't think to do everything. One CAN'T do everything as we have also been told on these posts.

For instance, until recently it didn't dawn on me to promote my book on this site and I just put up a pic of my book cover. I never think to put a link to my website (which is still under construction). There are probably more things I could do to promote my book (for free) that I don't even know about.

I feel Ginger's anguish. I just wish I could help her. Everyone here has helped me sooooo much!!!!!! It is a great group of people!!!!

Ginger, hang in there!!! It will all work out!

[Ginger Simpson]

Hi,
And thanks for the encouragement. No, I'm not with vanity press. I'm with multiple internet publishers, all who have required querying, synopsis and some, even a marketing plan, before acceptance. I've been through rigorous editing, so if nothing else, I've learned a ton and grown as a writer. People who believe that being e-pubbed is easy, are totally off base. And, as mainstream publishers are moving more in this direction, the competition is growing and requirements are becoming more stringent. I'm finding the hardest part of being with multiple publishers is that the rules change and I'm more confused than ever about what is right and what is wrong when it comes to sentence structure and punctuation. Some want semi-colons. some forbid them, one wants gerunds, others encourage them. Egad. Can you say, Shoot Me? *lol* Like I said, my initial investment was way more than it should have been, but I wanted to make a mark for myself. I did...a big red one. Luckily, I love what I do.
Ginger
http://www.gingersimpson.com

[Kenneth McGhee]

Hi Ginger,

Yes, letting friends and family members know about your book and obtaining reviews are good beginning marketing ideas. At the same time people close to you may not want to discuss or assist with marketing on an ongoing basis. I think authors can all assist each other. If all of us refer people who may be interested in another author’s subject more than ours we will receive the same favor back.

What I have done recently is look at the books on this site that other author’s have written and put them in a list by category. When I am talking to someone who has a certain interest I send them the information about another author’s book. People you know us may be more interested in hearing about a book written by someone they do not know. Let me share two recent examples.

A fellow author’s husband just produced a country music CD. I do not listen to country music but two people at work do every day. I asked them for the names of stations they listen to that may be interested in the CD. One of them is friends with the manager who makes new music selections. I forwarded this information to the author and in return she forwarded my book information to managers she knows.

My sister, who is also an author, recently met many of my co-workers when visiting from out of state. She mentioned to a few of them that shortly she was having a Christian romance novel coming out. They would never be interested in reading my management/leadership book. After her book came out she asked me to remind them. This resulted in her obtaining a five star review and her book being in three book clubs in three states.

Kenneth McGhee – Author

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