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.

[David Hicks]

Thanks for the leads on both counts.
Question: are there any advantages or sensitivities to posting releases on more than one service?
Would it make sense to use the paid service and shore it up with posts on some of the free services?

[Peter N. Jones]

I don't see any real disadvantages. I use several free services (never used a pay one) and they all seem to work to some degree. The one's I've used include: prleap.com, 1888pressrelease.com, i-newswire.com, free-press-release.com. I'm sure there are others. They are great for getting the word out, link building, etc.

[carol stanley]

HiPeter: It is always great to run into you on these sites...Your idea sounds great and I am going to look into this. Thanks ...Carol

[Charlotte McPherson]

Thanks for sharing your opinion about PRweb.com and how you have found it so helpful. It is always helpful to hear from people who have some experience with something being recommended. I write as a columnist for an English paper in Turkey. If you would like to read my column here is the link:

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/yazarAd.do?kn=68
Enjoy!
Charlotte McPherson

[Diane Eble]

You gave some good ideas, Cheryl. If people want some specific suggestions as to good but inexpensive places to start with creating a web site, I recommend the resources on my site--I list several (www.wordstoprofit.com).

Also, there are many other ways to create a web presence. Social networking sites like this one, Squidoo lenses, podcasts, teleseminars, blogs, article marketing are a few I use with great results. I also like the Virtual Book Tour (not a blog tour, but an Ask campaign--see www.wordstoprofit.com/VBT-FAQ.html) for marketing books. As you explain your book in an interview-type format, it really opens people up to buying your book (or other product). I've bought just about every book I've ever heard on a VBT. Doing a VBT is also good media training for radio.

[Charlotte McPherson]

Thank you for the resources I found on your website: you lists several (www.wordstoprofit.com). and these are very helpful. I have signed up for your newsletter. 1 big question: I understand that an author can write and sell ebooks, more easily than one thinks. I believe I could write it but how do you go about selling it? Can you give me some leads? I have written three books. One is available through th publisher in major bookstores in US, but two others were published in Turkey and I would like to market them in US and / or on web. Thanks for your input.

If you have time to read my column, copy and paste:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/yazarDetay.do?haberno=121204

[Charlotte McPherson]

Thanks Cheryl for the attachment on Creating an Internet Identity--very informative--and useful.
If you have time read my column about Who Rules the World? Babies!

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/yazarDetay.do?haberno=122782
Charlotte McPherson

[Robert Worstell]

One point to update the article - if you put yourself on a Wordpress blog as your website, it automatically pings the search engines. And if you're looking for data on personal branding, there's this by Chris Brogan (as well as a great deal more articles on how to brand yourself online). http://www.chrisbrogan.com/free-ebook-on-personal-branding/

[Smitty]

This is very true. Creating a author media blog and online presence is very important. A authors web site or blog becomes the place where book lovers, bookstore managers and other people can find you and your book at convenient times.

Further, you can create author business cards with your authors web site or blog on them, book markers and these become advertisement for you and your book. You give them away to friends, people you meet, at book signing events and so on.

Creating a online presence is further very important as a powerful marketing tool. Finding new markets to market your book and author media site, is equally important.

[Cheryl Kaye Tardif]

Marketing your books can happen anytime--anywhere! Be prepared! :)

A few months ago, I packed up my laptop and headed for my favorite haunt (if you don't know where that is, click on the link above!) I got there in the morning, sipped four jumbo mugs of cinnamon hazelnut coffee, had lunch (the Cheryl's Special Quesadilla), then later had a slice of lemon poppy seed loaf. I didn't leave until after 10:00 PM.

Talk about buzzed!!

I worked on Children of the Fog, my new suspense novel that asks, "How far would you go for your child?" I wrote in a frenzy, finishing 2 chapters, plus some editing. I was lost. Lost in my world--the one I had created for Sadie and Sam, the mother and son in my novel.

But a small voice brought me back to reality.

"Are you Cheryl...T?" a young girl asked hesitantly.

"Yes," I answered. "Are you a friend of my daughter's?"

The girl shook her head. "I read about you in the bathroom."

I smiled. I had two posters on the bathroom walls of the coffee shop--one with the cover of The River, one with the cover of Divine Intervention.

"Do you have any of your books here?" the girl asked me.

Without a second thought, I put aside my laptop and searched the canvas tote bag, coming up with one Divine Intervention and the very last copy of The River (it had sold out across Edmonton by December 20th).

"I have both," I said.

She immediately raced off. "I'm going to tell my mom!"

A minute later, she reappeared with her mother in tow. The girl's enthusiasm was contagious and for a moment, I forgot they were here to see me...and not some rock star. :) The mother introduced herself and asked about my books. A minute later, Julie was writing me a cheque and I was signing her new books. Her daughter smiled all the while, then made my day all the more special by a simple request.

"Can I have your autograph?"

"Of course," I said, happily signing one of my bookmarks for her.

Julie walked away with her 2 books, while her daughter skipped away with her treasure--the bookmark.

I had to smile. The simplest of things and a few minutes of my time had made two people happy.

It wasn't until I got home that I recalled the girl's words: "I read about you in the bathroom."

Suddenly, I was confused. I realized that my posters couldn't possibly have indicated who I was. After all, they showed book covers, not ads saying, "Look for the woman with red hair typing maniacally on a laptop. That's Cheryl Kaye Tardif."

So how had she known?

When realization hit me, I began to laugh. You see, earlier that day I had switched the cover posters in the men's and women's washrooms. And I removed a smaller sign that announced past book signing events. On the bottom of those signs I had mentioned that I could often be found in this coffee shop. There was even a small photo of me. I had folded the signs in half and tossed them in the garbage can.

THAT'S how this young girl knew who I was.

Bless her heart for being so interested! :)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song, Divine Intervention and The River

[shirley dicks]

You put up posters in the bathrooms of restaurants.....I never thought of doing something like that. Do you also put them up in department stores and groceries where they have bulletin boards. I don't have a poster but I probably should make a few.

What do you put on yours. A copy of the book cover and then about the book below it....do you put where they can order it as well or the website address...and do you sell a lot of books that way... Shirley

[Cheryl Kaye Tardif]

If a grocery store or department store or anyplace has a bulletin board, I'll put up a poster. There's even one at a bingo hall I go to sometimes...and I've donated books occasionally to the bingo hall to give as special prizes...and of course that always gives me opportunities to hand out bookmarks after it's over...and sign the winner's book. :)

Cheryl
http://www.cherylktardif.com
http://www.whalesongbook.com