| |
| |
|
Book Marketing Information |
|
|
|
10 Reasons Why People Attend Book Signings
This is the survey result of 325 people conducted by myselfso I can improve at my own book signings. After completingthe survey, I saw the wealth of insight it had given me. Ifelt it was important to share it with a wider audience. Ialso interspersed some personal experiences. The survey was conducted by Catherine in-person with peoplewho attended book signings at area bookstores in NorthernVirginia metro area between January 2004 and September 2004.A total of 325 people completed the survey. Here is their response to one of the questions: Why do yougo to book signings? If you are wondering how this can help you in marketing yourbook. These 10 items are extremely important. They tellwhat authors need to give to their audience in order toincrease their books sales and to connect with the audience.When you know what you audience wants, what they expect, theguessing fades and transforms into a great book signingevent. Here are the top ten responses in answer to the firstquestion: 1. People desire to be acknowledged for taking their timeto come -- by you, the store, and others that came.Participants who have either already read the book, come tomeet other like-minded people. They have a social intentionand you need to give it to them. Most book signings don'thave any social aspect to them so create one. When youinclude ways, you will definitely increase sales. Peoplewant connection, they don't want to be ignored. Get themto talk to the people around them. Introduce one person youjust met to the next person to them. There are manytechniques or create some of your own. A seasoned authorlearned to do this over time. Learn to do it sooner. 2. Curiosity. People are normally curious about authorsand how they write, or how they got their book published.Tell them about your journey with all this. For the wanta-be or gonna-be writers there because their vision includeswhat you are doing, give them that feedback. It createsimmediate connection. Even if they didn't come not to buyyour book, usually they will change their mind, just becauseyou settled their curiosity. 3. Entertainment. Yes, you need to be entertaining.People do want that and they stick around (meaning theydon't get up and walk out) if they get it. Show energy, usehand gestures, and please stop reading from the page (numberone pet peeve). Over and over again, I saw people leavewhen the author continued to read his presentation from thepage. People don't expect perfection. They had a heavyweek, or day, and they want some way to lighten it up. Evenif your book is a heavy topic, lighten it up. Comicalanecdotes about yourself are great! 4. Oh, the old, "what's in it for me" discussion. What arethe benefits for them to read the book? Is there someinformation that will help shift their thinking on anything?Use testimonials, ones that have some meat on their bones.Yes, you may need to make some assumptions on where theaudience is at. Go ahead and do that. Create a few thatcover a wider perspective and it will deliver to a wideraudience. 5. There is nothing wrong with encouraging more sales. Whoelse might be interested in the book. Their boss, friends,sister, who? Go ahead, give gift ideas. What holidays orevents can you tie the book to? Is Christmas, Mother's Daycoming up? Tie your topic and the holiday together if youcan. Mention the type of people who like to read this sortof book. No, don't say everyone and anybody. This issometimes hard for authors because they attach it to"selling." Drum roll...heaven forbid...selling. When anaudience is so enthralled in a book and its story, theirmind isn't on buying two books. They walk out with one andthen when turning page three or five, a flash appears,"Ooops, I should have bought one for my boss." I guaranteeyou that it is very unlikely they will return to thebookstore to buy another copy at that point. 6. Do some things where you make extra connections with theaudience. Just don't sit behind the table. Stand up, shakehands -- no limp ones either, and look them directly in theeyes when you ask them, "Who would you like me make this outto?" Ask if they would like another book made out tosomeone else? Here's a SECRET tip. It makes a BIG connection. TheJapanese do this all the time. Put down the pen. When youhand over the book, hold it cover up facing them with bothhands, present it to them slowly, purposely, as if it'sworth a million dollars and a very special gift. Look deepinto their eyes at the same time (okay this part isdifferent than the Japanese), and say silently in your heartand in your voice, "Thank you." Watch them light up. Ofcourse, smile. 7. As mentioned earlier, audiences come with a hiddenagenda -- to have a good time. To enjoy themselves. Createthat space of joy and lightness for them. Don't think youdon't have any control. The store wants you to succeed.Share with them what type of experience you want theaudience to have. Ask for recommendations, ask for thingsthat haven't been done before too. Give inspiration inlanguage, in thoughts, and in stories. Stories that pullsthe heart strings. If there isn't one in the book, findone. 8. There is nothing wrong with giving away a trinket, toy,item, that comes from one of the characters. Or even itisn't directly and just somewhat related. You don't need tospend lots of money on promotional items. Think. Thismight require approval by the host store. You will usuallyfind that as long as it usually doesn't cost them anythingand it increases book sales, they will encourage it. Give agift if they buy two or three copies. Find a unique magnet,or something funny, something that doesn't cost much but itjust ads to the incentive to buy more than one. Sometimesthe book store is returning something and can give you aremainder sale price. Ask. 9. You can't say thank you too many times. Remember tosmile, say thank you, and be there with a loving and openheart. This creates an attractive energy and pulls peopletowards you. 10. Share tidbits about how the idea of the book came toyou. Did you write 15 minutes a day, a certain word count?Did you get help from others, who? Did you struggle withsome part or something? Was there someone there for youthat inspired your journey? Please not the spouse commentall the time. To singles this is boring and people said aturnoff. Share tidbits about your childhood. There is achild in all of us. Share your childhood with youraudience. Especially funny screw-ups. Well, I hope you enjoyed learning what audiences want atbook signings. This process was definitely an eye-openerfor me. It gave me a real taste of people and theirexpectations. Maybe another future survey would be to getpeople to tell me why are they leaving early. © Copyright 2004, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved. Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing &Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internetwriting and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.comblog: http://abundance.blogs.com
MORE RESOURCES:
IndiaBook Indian SEO Company launches Search Marketing Outsourcing ... - BigNews.biz (press release)
Book-Marketing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Ready, Set, Go Sell Your Book In The Real World! We hear a lot these days about more books actually being sold 'outside' the traditional bookstore. Think about it. Why Would I Buy Your Book? Six Steps to Your Tell and Sell - Part 2 How would you like to have countless people clamoring for your book and willing to visit your Web site to buy them? How would you even like to presell your self-published book before they are finished?Most authors and entrepreneurs wait until their Web site is designed before they think about marketing their products on it. What a shame!Six Steps to Build your Book's Bullet Proof "Tell and Sell"Part one of this article is available at www. Self Publishing Success Starts With Marketing Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. The publication process is lengthy, involves a considerable number of detailed, administrative tasks and can be expensive. 10 Reasons Why People Attend Book Signings This is the survey result of 325 people conducted by myselfso I can improve at my own book signings. After completingthe survey, I saw the wealth of insight it had given me. Why Should I Buy your Book? How would you like to have countless people clamoring for your books and willing to visit your Web site to buy them? Most entrepreneurs wait until their Web site is designed before they think about marketing their products on it. What a shame! When someone asks you about your book, maybe you've said, "My book is about?. Top Ten Ways To Prepare for Your Online Book Marketing Success Still marketing your book through press releases, networking groups, and talks to groups? If these methods have taken a great deal of effort and time and brought you only a few clients or product sales, you may now be ready for your virtual marketing machine, the Internet! To get ready to market your book Online use these ten tips: 1. Buy an up-to-date computer with a 56k modem or more and Internet capability. How to Grab the No.2 Spot on Amazon for Advance Book Sales When my first book was published way back ten years ago, I thought that was it.I reckoned I'd never write another one. Interview with Book and Marketing Coach-Judy Cullins - Part 1 To know what to do at the right time in book writing, publishing, or Internet marketing, consult a coaching expert who has lived it all for 20 years--Judy Cullins. Q 1- Would you say there is a difference in marketing tactics for different genres? If so, what kind of promotion would you suggest for, say, authors of children's books, mystery/romance, or non-fiction? If there is no discernible difference, what do you see as the best method of book promotion? A 1- The best promotion is a natural promotion--that authors will actually do. Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 2 Think of Your Promotion Time and BudgetMost one or two-book authors don't have a large marketing budget. Marketing their speaking leaves them little time to write and promote their books. How to Sell Your E-book - (or other information product) - Through Quickie Seminars I've been selling my own self-published information products (mainly e-books) online for the past 3 years. Is it profitable? Definitely. Is There a Book Hiding Inside You? Have you always wanted to write?Are there ideas churning in your mind waiting for just the right time to get them down on paper? Do you have a unique perspective on a subject or problem facing many people? Do you read a book or article and think, "I could write better than that?" Have you ever said "someday, when I have time, I am going to write a book?"Perhaps now is the moment for you to put your excuses in the garbage and your fingers on the keys. You will never 'find' time; you simply have to 'make' time to write. How to Self Publish and Promote Your Own Book If you are reading this article then you have already toyed with the idea of self publishing. You may be unsure at this point and without a doubt, the decision to self publish, should not be taken lightly. Book Marketing 101 Francine Silverman. Book Marketing from A-Z (InfinityPublishing. Publicity for Buzz Marketing for Authors Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published! Now, all you have to do is get people to buy it.Getting people to actually enter a bookstore with the purposeof buying your book is not easy because you're not a "brandname" yet. Book Promotion Myth -- The Best Place to Sell Books is a Bookstore When authors think of their audience buying books they think of bookstores. This myth sends authors taking the long, arduous road to seeking out an agent, a publisher, hoping their book will become a best seller. Comments From A Book Reviewer For the past several years I have been reviewing books for my own site, Bookpleasures.com, as well as many other sites. Navigating the Amazon Sales Ranking First, the disclaimers: Since the algorithm Amazon uses to generate its sales ranking is proprietary, the details contained herein are extrapolated from research and field tests. The resulting consensus finds Amazon's system to provide marginal sales data at best. Distribute Your Self-Published Book Online 8 Ways - Part 2 If you are discouraged because traditional methods of book or product distribution haven't brought you the profits you wanted, think Internet distribution. This Online promotion method is good for the long haul and costs you little time or money. Buzz-Based Book Marketing Once upon a time, people went to bookstores when they wanted to buy a book. Or at least, that was the theory. Increase Book Sales: At Book Fairs, Festivals and Trade Shows Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding your audiences at local or nonlocal book fairs, festivals or trade shows. Can't afford a booth or table, rent a space on someone else's table and volunteer to be back for their book.
|
Home | Site Map | 101InfoLinks Directory | You'll LOVE This! | Sports Fans ONLY
|
| © 2007 |
.
