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The 5 Best Book Marketing Questions to Ask a Publicity Company

Penny C. Sansevieri's picture
by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue May 10, 2022

I can tell you very honestly that the best book marketing campaigns are created and executed when the author, and the marketing team, are all on the same page about goals and expectations.

Of course, your book has to be amazing, and the readers have to resonate with it – but finding those readers and making those connections is critical, and a good book marketing plan is the first step in getting to the next level with your brand.

So I wanted to compile a list of 5 questions you should be asking any book publicity team you’re considering working with.

1. What are realistic goals for my campaign based on my current platform?
Goals will always be unique to you, but I think it’s safe to say we’re all looking to sell more books – selling more books means more readers, and it means your platform is growing.

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Promoting a Book on Amazon Just Got Easier with the New Advertising Updates

Penny C. Sansevieri's picture
by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Apr 26, 2022

In the last couple of weeks, Amazon changed its advertising dashboard, opening it up to any author – regardless of how they’re published – making the whole goal of promoting a book on Amazon even easier. You can now access the Amazon ads dashboard from our Author Central account – which every author has access to! But what does it mean for the industry and for authors seeking to plug some money into Amazon ads to gain more exposure for their book? Let’s dig in.
 
Anyone Can Get Their Book onto Amazon, But Not Everyone Can Get Found: How and Why This Matters
Inside Publishing
Marketing & Publicity
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The Point of No Returns

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Mar 22, 2022

Industry statistics reveal that book returns can be 30% or more of sales. If you reduce or eliminate returns, then you could increase your net sales and revenue by that same amount and your profits by even more. 

But, you say, you have no control over returns since Ingram and the bookstores return them at will without selling them. On the contrary, there are many things that we as authors and publishers can do to eliminate returns.

The first thing to realize is that bookstores do not sell books — they display them. Any marketing they do involves promoting major titles or special events to entice people into their stores. It is up to the authors to create awareness of their specific titles. Similarly, most distributors utilize commissioned sales representatives whose income depends on selling books that are not returned, i.e., those promoted more heavily. They understandably spend their time selling those titles.

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Marketing & Publicity
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Nine Kinds of Sales Opportunities

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Mar 8, 2022

A key challenge to growing your publishing firm is to find new paths to greater revenue by building upon your core strengths without making a radical shift in the way you currently do business.
 
There are ways in which you can build a steady flow of revenue and profits to help your business reach significant long-term value – as you expand your comfort zone. Here are nine strategies for increasing your sales, revenue and profits using existing (or sometimes new) content in current markets, growth markets and new, “Frontier” markets.
 
Marketing strategies for mature markets. These strategies provide opportunities to hit short-term sales targets. 
 
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Marketing & Publicity
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Why Does The Price Of Many Products End in 95 or 99?

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Feb 15, 2022

It seems it would be a lot simpler for both retailers and consumers if the price of that $29.95 book were instead a nice, round $30. There must be a good reason why the prices of so many products end in 95 or 99. But what is it? 

Two theories stand out. One suggests a ploy to coerce the customer into a purchase, the thought being that a price of $29.95 seems more palatable than one of $30 (though sales tax would likely shove the total over $30 anyway). The theory seems plausible even if it does not place much value on our intelligence. 

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Marketing & Publicity
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The Ten Best-Kept Secrets of Book Marketing

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Feb 1, 2022

 
There are too many “good enough” books published by unknown authors every year for one to stand out and become a bona fide hit without adequate marketing. The world does not care that you wrote and published a book. Make yours stand above the crowd so people take notice, and that could take years of consistent, strategic marketing. Fortunately, there are ten marketing functions that if followed can significantly decrease the length of time it takes to reach the tipping point. They all start with the letter C as a mnemonic to help you remember them. Here are the Ten Cs of Successful Book Marketing.
 
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The Pizza Pie Theory of Selling Books

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jan 18, 2022

 
Negotiating with people who can purchase your books in large, non-returnable quantities can be stressful, particularly if you believe the buyer has all the power. You may feel you have more at stake since the buyers can always spend their money on some other promotional item. On the other hand, you may think, “If I can get $6.00 for each book on a 10,000-book order, I can make $60,000.” Instead, that perspective may place more pressure on you and also give all the power to the buyer.
 
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3 Essential Tips For Self-Publishing

Penny C. Sansevieri's picture
by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Jan 4, 2022

Self-publishing a book is really an exciting, frustrating, and emotional time, and it’s easy to lose focus along the way — believe me, I know — because I just released my new book, From Book to Bestseller this past fall and it’s been a love-hate relationship from the start.

But I always say it’s a lot easier with smart planning, and I stick by that.

If you take self-publishing a book one step at a time, and check all those boxes, cross the T’s and dot the I’s, you’re not only more likely to end up with a final product you’re proud of, you’re much more likely to end up with a final product readers gravitate toward, recommend, and review positively.

Step 1: Writing Is About You
And I don’t mean it’s just about that bucket list item, or getting that fantastic idea on paper, of course that’s important, but you want your book to be a reflection of you.

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Marketing & Publicity
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5 Book Marketing Services Always Worth Collaborating On

Penny C. Sansevieri's picture
by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Dec 21, 2021

A lot of authors hire out book marketing services not just because they don’t know how to do the work, but because they’re also strapped for time.

But what if you have the time, or don’t have a lot to invest yet, what do you do?

Ideally, you’d like to hire out services that require lots of early heavy-lifting and research, because often once the initial round of work is done, handing this over to the author gets much easier — at least that’s how we’ve always worked.

I never like to assume that authors want to hire book marketing services and companies for the duration of their career — most want to do an initial push with a pro team, and then take over the reins. I really encourage this kind of collaboration!

So here are some factors to consider when determining which book marketing services you should hire out, at least to start, and why it will likely support you better in the long run.

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Marketing & Publicity
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Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Wed Dec 8, 2021

Now is the time to plan what you will do next year to meet your goals. Many do not plan because they know what they are going to do. Just for a moment, think it differently. Planning is like laying track for a railroad — it establishes a solid foundation, provides a path to your destination and controls deviation. And it helps you to continue moving toward your destination when uncontrollable events occur. But just as the track does not propel you forward, neither does your plan. Your passion and productive action provide the fuel for the engine taking you on your journey to success. 

Inside Publishing
Marketing & Publicity
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