Book Marketing Success Stories

[John Kremer]

This is a forum to allow people to showcase the things they've done that have worked well for them in marketing their books. Please share your stories here. Then we can all read them and learn from them. If we work together, we will all be much stronger and more successful in marketing our books.

[C. D. Williams]

I am using almost every marketing method mentioned on this thread. Website, news releases both mailed and online through prweb.com. I put flyers, book marks and book related business cards in all of my correspondense, even my bills. I hand out cards everywhere I go as well as putting flyers on bulletin boards. I do book signings, give talks to local literary and library groups. I have even had a weekend book sale and signing at our local Air Force Base exchange. I have also managed to get on local radio, and book related public TV shows. I even managed to get a half page in the Literary Las Vegas section of our news paper. Don't overlook book reviews. I just got a nice one from Midwest Book Review in Oregon WI. They have been around since 1976 and they give special consideration to small press and self published authors. What I'm trying to say is that it all works to some degree, but it takes stuborn perseverance. In polite terms I call it the "Poop theory of marketing" - "If you throw enough poop at the wall some of it is bound to stick"
My recent prweb release was read 26,000 times the first day and as a result my wesite reads were 300 plus for the same period. It cost me $80.00. Was it worth it? I'll let you know when I find out.

[Shelagh Watkins]

Arctic Monkeys' debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, released on 23 January 2006, became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history and received critical acclaim, winning both the 2006 Mercury Prize and the 2007 Brit Award for Best British Album. The band's second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, was released on 23 April 2007 and sold over 225,000 copies in its debut week and was also nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize

Arctic Monkeys achieved their success through fan-made demo tapes and online file-sharing. They were heralded as one of the first acts to come to the public attention via the Internet, with commentators suggesting they represented the possibility of a change in the way in which new bands are promoted and marketed. The band eventually signed to the independent record label Domino Records.

Arctic Monkeys built their fan base by giving away their music for free on myspace. This could work for authors as well as musicians but writers have to write material that people want to read. Other bands have tried to emulate Arctic Monkeys without the same degree of success. Authors must know their market well and write to please their readers not to please themselves. If readers don't want to read your work when it is free, they certailnly won't pay to read it. You lose nothing by giving away free stories and could gain a great deal. You might learn a lot from your readers too!

~Shelagh

[Deborah Rummelhart]

Hi C.D.:

Was the PR web release worth it?

Best wishes,

Deborah Rummelhart

[Lorraine Harris]

I have had success in marketing, promoting, and selling my book. Some of the things that I do are as follows:

1. When I am scheduled for a book signing, I pass out postcards to people telling them about the book, date, time, and location.
2. I have held private book signings at my home, inviting neighbors.
3. Instead of using regular return address labels, I made my own, displaying my book cover, website address, and return address.
4. I made T-Shirts with eye catching phrases. Besides me wearning them, I give them away as door prizes or free drawings. One example--on the front of the T-Shirt is says--Listen to your...., On the back it says---INTUITION (The title of my book) and it has my website address and a picture of the book.
5. No matter where I go, I try to have a book signing. I was on a cruise and asked if I could have a book signing during one of the cocktail parties and I was granted my request.
6. I sponsored a charity event.
7. I joined amazon.com associate program and linked the site to my website.
8. I donated my books to the library but a review has to be conducted before the book can be placed in the library.
9. I put flyers on grocery store bulletin boards.
10. I add a tag to my email address, including my website address.

[Emily Bryan]

Great ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Just curious. Which cruise line did you do a signing for? I've written to Princess ahead of time and been turned down.

Best,
Emily
http://www.emilybryan.com

[Kristie Leigh Maguire]

My novel, Affairs of the Heart, has hit Number One in sensual romance at Amazon.com. I have used different methods in promoting this title. I think what has worked best in my promotional efforts are my video book trailers that I have posted at various sites. My book trailer is in the Top 25 Most Watched Videos at YouAreTV.com.

In celebration of this milestone, I am selling autographed copies of Affairs of the Heart to Book Marketing Network members fot the special price of $20.00 plus free shipping by media mail. Payment must be made to my PayPal account before I can ship the book. Email me at [e-mail] and state that you are a member of Book Marketing Network if you would like to take advantage of this limited time special.

For more information on Affairs of the Heart, go to my website.

Kristie Leigh Maguire

[Shannon Janeczek]

We had a lot of success with submitting our books to book awards. One of our children's books won 3 awards just in the month of October alone! We're trying to figure out how to reprint with 3 different seals on the front cover! A good problem to have.

It takes a few months to get results, not unlike getting reviews, but award submissions are something you can do once the book is out, rather than having to send out ARCs or galleys before publication.

[Lisa Copen]

When collecting your testimonials or "blurbs" for your book make sure to not have all of them be from experts. Yes, a well-known celebrity can add a bit of sparkle to your sales sheet. For example, who wouldn't want a quote about your new adoption scrapbook album from Angelina Jolie?

Testimonials from experts and celebrities catch the attention of both media like radio producers as well as your audience of potential readers. They will think, "Wow! That's nice that she was able to get a recommendation from her. That took some effort. Must be a decent book."

And it will add credibility that the book isn't a real flop.

But in my opinion, it's the average reader who will influence a person to buy the book.

Which blurb would make you want a book?

One by Stephen King that says...

"Intriguing. Excellent read."

Or a testimonial from Suzy that says...

"Your book completely turned my life upside down—or should I say, 'right side up?' I've made so many changes in both my actions and my attitudes and it's improved my health, my relationships—everything! Thank you helping me get my life back!"

Stephen King's remark is nice, but it doesn't make me think I need this book. Suzy’s review makes me think "I need this book so I can get my life back too!"

Don't cover your books front and back covers with just vague endorsements from celebrities. Be sure to add at least one "real person's" testimonial that will make the shopper think, "This person sounds just like me and if this book helped her (or entertained her) it will help me too."

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For more Book Marketing Tips SIGN Up to receive Lisa's RSS feed and you'll be entered to win a copy of www.amazon.com%2F1001-Ways-Market-Books-Sixth%2Fdp%2F091241149X%3Fi...">1001 Ways to Market Your Books by John Kremer.

Lisa and Joel Copen have a variety of experience in founding a nonprofit that receieves over 80,000 visitors per month, music and sound editing, web design, and book marketing and publishing. They look forward to your ideas to make the series of ebooks on book promotion a practical tool to help you sell more books!

[SusieSunshine]

Your link to sign up won't work. I believe you have an extra "n" in it between the words "you" and "can". Just wanted to let you know.

Blessings from my spirit to your spirit!

[Theresa Chaze]

I have a list of things I do. As for promotional material, I give out bookmarkers; they are laminated with a brief description and they were cheap. I have also been know to seed them in competitors books on bookstore shelves. I have blogs and send out at least one press release a week. I also cold contact independent bookstores. It has been very effective in gaining their interest.

[Emily Bryan]

On my local RWA loop, one of the other writers asked what types of promo actually work to introduce an author to new readers. Wow. If I knew the answer to that one, I’d be able to retire to Maui next week. I sort of use the shotgun method myself. I spray the news about my newest release, DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS in every outlet I possibly can and hope that some of it hits the targets.

And one of things I use is book trailers or bookpeeks, as they are sometimes called. Now I know some authors spend beaucoup de bucks having their trailers made professionally. Since I’m not sure they work, I can’t see investing in one since I’m able to put together my own for under $25. But wait you say–What kind of trailer can you make for that piddling amount? Well, check mine out and you tell me.

http://www.veoh.com/channels/emilybryan

Ok, I know the music isn’t too hot. There is a way to download professional music clips, but that requires more money and lots of people, like me, regularly turn the speaker on their computer off. Besides, I’m not related to my father for nothing. He’s been known to pinch a penny till it squeals. But cheesy music notwithstanding, the pictures give a hint at what the book is about. And hopefully sparks some interest, which is all a book trailer is expected to do. And for less than $25, I can afford to have it out there even if it doesn’t sell a single book.

So how did I do it? I’m glad you asked. First I downloaded Photostory3 FREE! This is a very simple program that allows you to put pictures together, create captions to tell the story and generate your own music for the bookpeek. I’m the anti-techno queen. Ask anyone. But Photostory is easy and intuitive. My uber-techie husband tells me that means it’s designed to be used by people who can’t even buy a clue. So even the wishiwasa-geek can do it. Like me.

Where did I get the pictures I hear you ask? Google: royalty free photos. You’ll find dreamstime and istock and a host of other sites where folks offer their photos for a very small fee. Some authors like to take their own pictures, but that requires talent with which I have not been gifted. I have a lovely collection of photos of headless family members if anyone’s interested.

One of the things I’ve noticed about book trailers is that they are sometimes too long and give away the entire story. Before I went looking for pictures, I thought about the elements of my story, trying to pick out the most enticing, of course. Then I wrote 10 phrases that tease my book. There isn’t room for complete sentences without covering the picture. Once I was satisfied with my copy, I went in search of 10 pictures that would fit my phrases. Plan to spend a couple hours. Ten frames will give you a trailer that’s about a minute long, which is long enough.
Then I enlisted my techie husband’s help in saving my finished product as a file type that would be accepted by the video sites. To my sorrow, I can’t get YouTube to like my DUCHESS. That site won’t take the upload, but Veoh and MySpace took it without a blink. Dirty rotten YouTube.

One of the benefits of doing a trailer is that it’s sort of like doing a pitch. We need to be able to tell people what our books are about in extremely short form. I’ve heard some authors browse the photo sites before they even write the story as an exercise in brainstorming. If you’re a visual person, like me, you might find it useful.

Wonder if I can do a whole synopsis on Photostory? Might beat the little sticky notes plastered all over my mirror that I use now. Hmmmm . . .

[SusieSunshine]

Thank you, Emily, for posting this. It makes the process of making a trailer a lot less scary. I would now be willing to try it on my own, whereas before it was a daunting idea.

Thank you again!