Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Anyone out there feeling like a book marketing guru? We often hear from writers that knowing the potential competition for their books is the hardest thing about doing a proposal. But reading the market is an important …
Marketing & Publicity
Can You Read The Title?
Blogger: Rachel Kent
The most recent CBA Retailers & Resources magazine had a book on the cover and it took me awhile to figure out what the title said. (Actually, Janet had to tell me.) What a big mistake for …
Critical Mass vs. Cannibalism: What Authors Need to Know
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
I read an article in Publishers Weekly recently that advised writers to publish a lot: “The more books you have out there, the easier the marketing game is….This principle applies to any creative pursuit. The more …
Critical Mass vs. Cannibalism: What Authors Need to KnowRead More
Timing the Reveal
To reveal or not to reveal details about your book early in the publishing process, that is the question. Let’s debate whether it is better for an author to try to build interest in his book by revealing tidbits along …
Book Cover Quiz–with Takeaway
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Buzzfeed put together a book cover quiz that is entitled, “The Hardest Book Cover Quiz You’ll Ever Take.” Not one easily daunted by a little challenge, I immediately set about taking the quiz.
One aspect of …
Where to Find Readers
Blogger: Wendy Lawton
If you’ve known me for long I’m sure you’ve heard me whine about writers who spend their social media energy connecting with other writers. I keep ranting “go to your readers, not your writing friends.” But of …
How to Use Twitter Polls–and Hearts
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Want to increase other’s engagement with you on Twitter? Two recent changes might make that more likely.
Late in October Twitter introduced polls.
You can make a benign statement in your poll such as: “Stuffing …
Take a Second Look at Pinterest
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
You’ve probably dismissed Pinterest if: 1) you’re a guy; 2) you’re not lured in by eye candy; 3) you don’t think it’s utilitarian. New data indicate you might want to reevaluate.
Pinterest was launched five years …
Tapping into the Power of Word-of-Mouth
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Studies consistently show that word-of-mouth–one person advocating to another to try a product– is the most powerful marketing tool that exists. We employ others’ recommendations especially to select books, movies, and TV programs. But more than …
What’s a Book Blurb Worth?
Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
Blurbs, which are short celebrity endorsements or excerpts from a review that appear on a book’s cover, are viewed by publishers as an important element in promoting a book. But are they as valuable as we’ve …