It doesn’t have to be Halloween for you to use these 7 surefire ways to sweeten-up your book promotion on Twitter:

1. Longer tweets get more clicks. Internet marketers like to tell you to keep things short. But a tweet is only 140 characters, so it’s one of the few cases online where you actually benefit from using all the space you’re allotted.

2. Use more verbs. Less nouns. We’re emotionally stirred by action! So make your tweets sing, screech, punch, and dance.

3. Tweet in the afternoon and evening. After 2pm, Twitter traffic increases fairly dramatically. Maybe folks feel like they’ve got enough work done for the day that they can afford to sneak in 5 minutes on Twitter. So schedule your tweets with those people in mind.

4. Tweet closer to the weekend. As the workweek draws to a close, Twitter traffic soars — with Friday being the busiest day. So your heaviest Twitter activity should be on Thursday and Friday.
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5. Ask for the retweet (“pls RT”). A lot of times in life the simplest way to get something is to ask. The same goes for Twitter. People are far more likely to retweet your content if you ask them.

6. Spread tweets out by at least 1 hour. You want to get the most people possible to see your tweets. By spreading out your Twitter activity by at least an hour, you’re increasing the likelihood of different folks seeing your activity. Plus you’re not annoying your followers by cluttering up their news feeds all at once.

7. Try putting the link towards the beginning of the tweet. Sure, 60-80% of your tweets should link to interesting content. But there’s also evidence to suggest that you should place that URL towards the beginning of your tweet. In many A/B tests between similar tweets, the one with the URL up front performed better.
 
To Your Success,
​
MG

The term special sales is commonly used to describe sales opportunities outside of bookstores. Also referred to as non-bookstore (or non-traditional) marketing, it can be a profitable source of new revenue. Remember, I told you I’d come back this week and share with you selling to non-retailers. So, here you go:
Non-Retail Sales

Corporations, associations, foundations, government agencies and the armed services buy books directly from publishers for use as premiums, incentives, sales promotions, for educational purposes, and sometimes for resale. The factor differentiating this segment from the retail sector is that you sell directly to buyers in these organizations. Book sales are typically made in large quantities, returns are rare, and payment is received more quickly.

Content is king in this sector. Buyers want to use the information in your books to help them solve a business problem. They use your content as a tool to increase their sales, introduce new products, educate students, or motivate members or employees.

Businesses. There are two areas of opportunity in the corporate setting. One is Human Resources, whose managers may seek books on retirement-planning programs or how to save money on insurance premiums by showing employees how to improve their health. Employee recognition and motivation is also a growing trend.

Associations. There are over 135,000 nonprofit membership organizations worldwide. Consider two major ways to sell to associations. The first is termed “cause marketing” where you donate a percentage of each book sale to a charitable, non-profit organization to help finance their cause. The other approach is to sell books directly to the association, to be used as a premium to increase membership, or to re-sell in their bookstores.

Schools. The academic marketplace is an opportune segment for publishers, one using books as a foundation for its existence. It impacts people of all ages, from pre-school through graduate school and adult education courses. Regardless of the grade, age of student, major in college or choice of home, public or private education, the need for books is ubiquitous.

Government. How would you like to sell to a customer that needs your content, has virtually unlimited funds, and does not return your books? There is such as customer—and it is your own federal government. And don’t ignore state and local agencies.

Military. You can sell books domestically or overseas, to military exchanges and libraries, Department of Defense Dependent Schools, onboard ships, to retired military personnel, and to the families of military personnel. Do this online and through commissaries and direct book marketing.

​Special-sales book marketing is not a separate way of doing business. It is not even a new way of doing business. It is an integral part of your overall book marketing strategy. Simply divide non-bookstore marketing into its two component parts and you may find hundreds, if not thousands, of prospective customers for your titles.
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Don’t miss an opportunity just because you weren’t looking for it. Need help with this, call us at 866-599-6270.
 
To Your Success,
MG

SPECIAL SERIES FOR BOOK SALES – SELLING TO RETAILERS

The term special sales is commonly used to describe sales opportunities outside of bookstores. Also referred to as non-bookstore (or non-traditional) marketing, it can be a profitable source of new revenue.

The best way to exploit this opportunity is to divide it into two segments and sell to buyers in each. One is the retail segment where you reach buyers using a network of middlemen. The other segment is comprised of direct sales to non-retailers that use books as marketing tools to sell more of their products or help their employees, members, or students. This week we will cover retailers and next week I will come back and share with you some ideas for selling to non-retailers. Enjoy!

Selling to Retailers

You are already familiar with this sector. You find distributors or wholesalers to get your books into retail outlets where they are sold off the shelf to consumers. Payments are made in two or three months and unsold books are returned. Retailers display products that 1) will build store traffic, 2) maximize profitability per square foot and 3) generate more inventory turns. Prove that your title can do those things better than competitors’ titles and you can get your books on the shelves of the below retailers:

Discount stores and warehouse clubs. Stores in this category include Walmart, Target, Costco, and Sam's Club. Books at these stores are discounted heavily and do not offer the same margins of some larger-ticket products. Therefore, these retailers limit shelf space to the “brand-name” authors and top-selling books.

Airport stores. Books on management, investment, economics, business biography, personal finance, and health sell well among business travelers. Books for children also tend to do well in these outlets, especially children’s “activity books.” Popular fiction achieves book sales in this environment also. Consider selling to other airport stores, not just bookstores.

Supermarkets and pharmacies. Cookbooks, travel books, and regional titles move in supermarkets, but health-related topics sell better in drugstores. Children’s titles also seem to do well in supermarkets, but fiction remains the mainstay there.

Museums, zoos and national parks. Most of these have a gift shop, and to get in them you must demonstrate how your books can educate and entertain their guests. Get your books on these shelves using third-party management firms that acquire books for the gift shops. Event Network operates gift shops at zoos, museums, aquariums, science centers and botanical gardens, and Eastern National serves the national park system.

Gift shops. This category includes large chains such as Pottery Barn, Yankee Candle, Bath and Body Works, Pier One and Crate & Barrel, Hallmark Stores and Spencer Gifts. It also includes hotel and hospital gift shops. Reach these outlets through direct marketing, sales-representative groups, and by attending trade shows and gift marts.

Specialty stores. You could achieve book sales by selling your books in home-improvement centers, pet shops, auto-supply stores, camera shops, toy stores or business-supply stores—retailers that serve identifiable groups of people with a common interest in your content.

Try it. They just might buy it…
 
To Your Success,
​
MG

Do you know how to create impressions for your book? Traditional publishing houses use multiple impressions to create buzz about the books they publish. You, too, can create impressions that will generate interest in your book and increase sales. The goal is to get as much attention as possible in a variety of ways, and here are a few tips how.

1. Social Media

Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, or YouTube, practically everyone is engaged in social media. It's where people hang out and a great place to build interest in your book. With an active Facebook following, organic posts and videos can go a long way just by having your fans like and share them to increase their visibility, and they're free. Paid Facebook ads are a relatively cheap way to increase the reach of your message. They allow you to target your ads toward "people who follow you" or "people interested in x, y, or z" which will help you reach your desired audience for less than it would cost for a larger, blanket ad.

2. Industry Recognition

Create buzz and increase your book's exposure by having the industry publicly recognize your book's value via book reviews, blurbs, awards, and the news. Put your book in the hands of readers and news outlets who write reviews. Send review copies to other authors and industry professionals who are willing to write a blurb for you, and submit your manuscript to award competitions. This kind of industry recognition helps you reach a wider audience and increase sales.

3. Book Clubs

If you aren't already in a book club, start one. Start with a book people are already talking about, then suggest yours. You can also offer to participate in book clubs who are reading your book. Start with local groups you know and make yourself available via Skype for Q&A sessions. For example, if you were a trial attorney you could attend local book meetings and schedule lectures at law firms to gain attention for your book.

4. Author Events and Guerilla/Grassroots Marketing

Work with your local bookstores and other shops to stage author events, including readings, signings, and meet-and-greets. Place posters around your local community, participate in online giveaways, and collaborate with local businesses. If you've written a book about fashion, ask local clothing stores if they'd throw a postcard for your book in everyone's bag when they make a sale. Have you written a cookbook? Try collaborating with local kitchen stores, cooking classes, and even restaurants that serve food similar to the food in your book. Pitch the local angle, and make sure whatever you do relates to your book.
 
5. Blogging

By this point, you have a great author website and may want to consider writing a blog. With a blog, you can write entries that include tantalizing details about your book, follow your publishing journey, and are of interest to your potential audience. If you've written a romance, blog about relationships and/or dating. Reach out to other bloggers and plan a guest-blogging tour. Guest blogging on blogs that have your ideal audience will create impressions of your book in places you might not otherwise reach.

Try it out at least one technique and let us know how it worked for you.
 
To Your Success,
​
MG
 

YOU JUST WANT ATTENTION, RIGHT? IT’S OK. EVERYONE DOES.

Ever wonder how book publicists do what they do? Is there a secret formula for getting media coverage? Well, not really, but there are some insider tips and tricks of the book publicity trade that can help indie authors do what the professionals do.

Here are five tips that might just help you get some meaningful book publicity for your book.

Landing Radio and TV Interviews

If you’re trying to get radio and TV interviews, forget about your book. Yes . . . that’s right, forget about your book. Interviews—except if you’re a household name—are rarely about a book; they’re about you, and the interesting, informative, controversial or fun topics you can discuss. No one interviews a book!

Pitch yourself and explain why you would be a great guest on a specific show. Tell them, succinctly and persuasively, why you’d make a great guest. When booking interviews, producers first look at what they’re being offered in a pitch. The book comes into play as credibility; proof that you know what you’re talking about.

Go Old School

There are other forms of communication than email—a fact many of us forget. Let’s say the average editor or producer gets 300 emails a day from book publicists or authors. Like most of us, unless something jumps out at them, the delete button is immediately employed to get down to a manageable number. Your chances, in the big picture, aren't that good when it comes to your email pitch.

But what if you actually mailed a letter, and hand addressed it? How many hand-addressed letters do you think the average producer or editor gets a day? Probably not many. A hand-addressed envelope is very likely to be opened, and your pitch may actually be read!

Here’s another insider tip: instead of mailing a copy of your book to media, send it via FedEx or UPS. Almost everyone opens these!

Remember, the Media Needs You

That’s right, editors and producers really do need and want you. Without book publicists and indie authors, their jobs would be much harder. Keep this in mind when promoting your book. If you approach media appropriately, you aren't some annoying, desperate author—you’re gold to them. Maybe in an initial response an editor or producer won't act like you are, but trust me, if they’re interested in you, they are going to want you.

Change your mindset. Tell yourself that you are someone media need, and instead of promoting yourself, you’re selling yourself, and you’ll decide who to engage. This may sound simple, but it’s something all good book publicists do. Act important because you are important, and you’ll be seen as important.

Personalize

If you personalize, they will respond. When reaching out to journalists you believe should be interested in you and your book, take a few minutes to research what they’ve recently written about. If you say, “I know you covered ________ topic recently, so you might be interested in ________,” —you dramatically increase your chances of getting a response. It shows the journalist you’re serious and you took the time to research them, and they will appreciate this.

Offer Giveaways
Guest bookers and producers love to use guests who will give some books away as part of their interview. Giveaways prompt call-ins to radio shows, spark listener questions, and it’s a great way to generate interest in your book. Giving away books to people who call in to a show often makes others believe the book must be something special.
To Your Success,
​
MG

When something isn’t new anymore—whether it’s your car or your book—value disappears with each passing day. But while that new-book smell might decrease, the value of your book to you, as a creator, doesn’t have to if you know where to look.
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Reinvigorate Your Media Outreach
With so many books published each year, it seems like people only care about new books. For a lot of media, that’s true; it’s why so many outlets have such strict guidelines when it comes to submitting books for possible review, or pitching to media.

The major book review journals—Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Foreword Reviews, etc.—all have strict pre-publication submission guidelines, but they all also have a backdoor: PW’s Booklife, Kirkus Indie, and Foreword Clarion are a few examples. These secondary options do not restrict the potential for review based on the book’s release date, and as such, already-released books can be submitted for review. In the case of Kirkus and Foreword, these options are paid for and therefore guarantee a review for your book.

A new book review—particularly a positive review—is a great way to bring new attention to an existing book, whether that’s new outreach to booksellers or librarians, consumers, or media.

Cut It Up
Before it was a movie, and before it was published by Random House, The Martian was a serialized work of fiction. Serialization is the latest trend in storytelling, from the Serial podcast to Serial Box (an online platform for serialized fiction), entire business models are cropping up around the idea of leaving the reader hanging, and it could be a way to find a new audience for your narrative.

And it’s not just linear storytelling that you can apply parts of your book to. Services like Slicebooks exist to cut up your work to sell on different platforms, in collections and more.

Just because your book is no longer new doesn’t mean you’ve squeezed it dry. Launch is just one part of a book’s life, and the ideas above are just a few ways you can create an income longtail for yours.
I’m just saying. Need help breathing new life into your old book, call us at 866-599-6270.
 
To Your Success,
MG

 

What does 2019 have in store for authors? Last year we predicted which publishing trends would impact indie authors and how. Many of them materialized and some of them will hold true into 2018. Here is the list of the top 10 trends in publishing that will impact indie authors the most, with specific guidance on how you can best navigate them.

1) Indie authors will continue to grow eBook share

Traditional publishers will continue to price their eBooks above market and will focus on print and audio sales in 2019. They will also continue to focus on their go-to franchises and signing authors who have a built-in audience (celebrities, politicians, successful indies). Indies will continue to fill the void by publishing high-quality, affordable eBooks and writing to niche audiences (something blockbusters cannot do as they require mass appeal). 2019 is bound to be a year for books and a year for readers! Trends come and go but one thing I see coming back in a huge way is sci-fi and fantasy romance. Contemporary will always do well but I think readers are starting to get overwhelmed with the same old rom com with the similar fonts, colors, and titles. I say bring on the other genres—a great palette cleanser for 2019.” Authors continue to stay ahead of the curve by innovating on content and design, and become ever more sophisticated at book publishing, readers will continue to shift eBook market share to indies.

What this means for you: Indies have an edge over traditional publishers with both content and pricing. Indies can leverage this by experimenting with pricing and running short-term free  promotions on their titles. As an indie author you can serve readers who are thought of as “too niche” for publishers. Figure out who your audience is and how best to serve them with your writing. Be true to who you are as a writer and don’t try emulate the bestsellers that trads are putting out.

2) Marketing will become more expensive

As we predicted, 2017 saw increased costs on Facebook as more brands and authors used the platform to market their products. We anticipate this trend will continue into 2018 to the point where Facebook ads will no longer make sense for authors with single titles. Returns may still be there for authors with series or multiple titles, but the ROI will be thinner. Unfortunately this trend will not be limited to Facebook ads. Amazon Ads (AMS) will continue to gain in popularity, driving competition and increases in costs on the platform. Authors’ primary marketing challenges in 2019 will be trying to find marketing tools that are time and cost efficient. “Anyone who thinks we are heading into a period of calm after the choppy waters of 2018 is going to be disappointed,” says author and blogger Dal McChessick. “Current trends will continue, ramping up all throughout 2019. This means more involved marketing campaigns will be needed to make a dent in the charts: considerable multi-pronged efforts with PPC ads, reader sites, newsletter swaps, and social media push. I don’t think Facebook is going out of fashion at all, I think the game is changing their considerably and authors will either adapt a new approach, or start to see very poor returns.” The upshot of this is that authors will have to spend significantly more time on marketing to maintain the results they saw in 2017.  “As indie publishing becomes more competitive and requires more and more business and marketing skills, I expect to see all successful indies outsource a major part of their marketing efforts — including the planning — to professional freelancers or agencies. Those who don’t may certainly experience burnout”.

What this means for you: Authors with large catalogs are going to have an edge over authors with single or smaller catalogs as they are able to spread their marketing costs over multiple titles and will get better ROI from read-through. If you are running a successful author business, 2019 may be the year to hire a marketing assistant. If you’re early in your indie author career, focus on becoming more prolific in your writing or adding additional titles to your existing series so you can compete in the marketplace.

3) Email marketing will be tested

Email marketing has always been the most cost-effective marketing tool available to authors. The reach and response you get from email compared to the cost of sending an email is still unbeatable. 2017 saw indie authors turning to email marketing and aggressively building their lists. 2018 was the year of group giveaways and email list swapping. Indies were delighted at the performance of email and used it more aggressively. The side effect has been reader fatigue – lower open rates and lower performance. This trend will continue into 2019 as indies are stuck between rising costs on platforms like Facebook and the growing unsubscribe rates on email. One Director of Marketing shares, “To combat newsletter fatigue, authors are starting to become far more personal with their readers, simplifying newsletters to plain text, removing graphics, and refining their copy to something softer than a marketing pitch. The author’s personal empowerment will start, in part, with a more personalized email newsletter.”

What this means for you: Despite some decline in email performance, your email list is still your most valuable asset and you should treat it as such. Authors who respect reader preferences and send compelling content will continue to reap the rewards of email marketing. Experimentation will be the name of the game in 2018 as authors retool and re-think their email marketing strategies.

4) The Audiobook market will grow and be shaken up

Audiobooks were the fastest growing segment in the publishing industry last year. For traditional publishers audiobook sales mitigated declines in eBook sales, and trad publishers are bullish on audiobooks going into 2018. Audible (owned by Amazon) still has the lion’s share of the audiobook marketing but others are trying to make inroads. 2019 may well be the year when we see new and existing players disrupt the established order.  “Digital audiobooks will remain the fastest growth area in publishing with sales increasing 30% to 40% or more. The dynamics—ease of access for consumers, lifestyle habits, increased market competition, new selling models—have all synced up to create significant staying power. It should surprise nobody when the market size of audiobooks surpasses eBooks in a few years. In 2019, we expect to see independent authors empowered to capitalize on this explosive growth. Indies will take advantage of wide distribution (domestic, international, and public library), realize the advantages at key retailers of setting prices to meet consumer demand, and benefit from more discovery tools created to connect authors with their audiences outside traditional audiobook credit models.”

What this means for you: Producing an audiobook runs into the thousands of dollars or requires giving up significant royalties and is still a significant investment for authors. New authors who find the price tag too steep are best off focusing on building their catalog of eBooks first. Authors who are looking to invest in their publishing business should definitely have audiobook expansion on their list for 2018. All authors should keep an eye on the market and look to support audiobook retailers and production companies that are author friendly.

5) Amazon’s will continue to be less generous

In February of 2017 Amazon made changes to its affiliate program that in effect dropped the payouts that affiliates were receiving. On January 1st of this year Amazon decreased the affiliate commissions on Amazon devices. We anticipate this trend will continue in 2018 because once Amazon has the majority of American households as customers there will be less incentive to pay affiliates to drive customers to Amazon. In the publishing world the impact of a less generous affiliate program is felt most acutely by book bloggers and deal (promo) sites that are running either solely on affiliate income or using affiliate income to significantly supplement their business. Amazon will also continue to be aggressive in enforcing its affiliate policies, banning or dropping deal sites it deems to be in violation of its terms. These two trends will couple to remove book bloggers and deal sites from the eco-system.

What this means for you: If you have relationships with book bloggers who actively review and promote your book free of charge, 2019 would be a good year to donate to their blog or purchase some paid ad slots to ensure they stay in business. Expect to see price increases on some deal sites as they try to supplement the affiliate income they have lost.

6) More Indie authors will achieve success

Every year they conduct an author’s survey to identify what high-earning authors are doing to achieve success. In 2017 the number of authors who reported making over $100,000 from writing grew by 70% over 2016. The percentage of authors making between $5,000 and $10,000 per month doubled year over year. Indies who persevere and continue putting out books slowly increase their earnings over time. Is it easy? No. Will it take time? Yes. But there are plenty indie authors who are making money. They will continue to grow their businesses in 2017 and a new batch of high-earning authors will join their ranks.
 
What this means for you: Successful indie authors see themselves as entrepreneurs who are running a business. And they are. Their product is their books. Successful authors are those that focus on their business and manage the ups and downs. In 2018 be honest with yourself. What are your goals? Are you writing to pursue a passion? Are you writing to supplement your income? Are you building or growing a business? Then align your efforts with your goals to achieve what success means for you.

7) Readers will continue to buy and read books

In 2018 people will continue to purchase eBooks. Mark Coker noted in a 2017 review that “one of the big takeaways from this year’s Smashwords Survey was that we found our bestselling authors were able to increase prices without undermining unit sales. $4.99 has joined $2.99 and $3.99 as pricing sweet spots. This tells me that authors who build devoted followings have pricing power. Reports show that yes, eBook sales are declining for traditional publishers, but that does not necessarily hold true for eBooks published by small presses and indie authors.
 
What this means for you: There will be plenty of stories in 2018 about the demise of reading, screen fatigue and increasing competition for reader’s time. As an author, you are best off ignoring the pundits to focus on your writing instead. There are readers out there who will pay for your work and your job is to find them, connect with them and write for them.

Publishing Trends Summary

There you have it, the 2018 publishing trends we predict will shape publishing in the coming year. We recommend reading each point but if you’ve skimmed down to the end for the summary it reads like this: Indie authors will continue to steal eBook share away from traditional publishers as readers continue to purchase books that are competitively priced and that cater to their specific genre tastes. Audiobooks will continue to be a bright spot for the publishing industry at large. Amazon will continue to be the thousand pound gorilla with more authors flocking to Kindle Unlimited despite other retailers trying to compete. Amazon will not be without its challenges as it continues to battle scammers and faces backlash from affiliates as Amazon diminishes its payouts. Marketing will be the primary challenge for everyone in 2019 as costs on platforms like Facebook and Amazon Ads continue to climb. Indies with large backlists who focus on multi-pronged marketing campaigns will be the winners. Indies will experiment with new ways to connect directly with readers though success in these areas will likely take multiple iterations and time.

If you decide to go Audiobook, need a marketing assistant or just need help deciding what and how to do your book business; contact us at www.PurposePublishing.com
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To Your Success,
MG

Performances on radio talk or news shows can be a great way to supplement your book promotion activities. With radio as part of your communication plan, you can reach hundreds, thousands, or millions of people at little or no cost. You can even sell some books, if you do it right.

Most radio shows are conducted over the telephone, from any place in which there is a good connection, no background noise and where you can talk uninterrupted for the length of the show. Here are several guidelines to make telephone interviews more effective:

Know the Time: As you agree upon the time and date with the producer, confirm your time zone. The producer may say he or she will call you at 3:00, but is that 3:00 p.m. in your time zone?
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Use a Land Line: Don't use cell phones. This is also not the time to impress your friends by having them listen in while you give your interview over speaker phone. These two methods can mess with the sound quality or provide static or feedback.

Be Prepared: Have a specific area set aside for telephone interviews, one in which you can keep your notes, books, and pad of paper handy. Unplug nearby phones if they are on a different line. Nobody will say, “You’re on the air,” so always assume the microphone is hot (live).

Play Along: Your host may want to give the audience the impression that you are in the studio. He or she may say, “Here with us today is Brian Jud, author of the media-training video program You’re on The Air.” Take the hint and do not make comments such as, “How’s the weather out there?”

Listen In: While you are on hold, either before you begin the interview or during a break, you will hear the station’s regular programming. Listen for key points to which you can refer later. On long shows, the host may talk to you during the break to plan what you will discuss during the next segment.

Use a Headset: This one is based on your personal preference, but sometimes it's nice to conduct an interview hands free. If you have a speakerphone, engage it during the breaks only to give your ears a break.

Heed Breaks: Before a long show starts, ask when breaks will occur and how long each will be. Listen for the show’s theme music, which will usually start at low volume and increase as it leads to the break. Close your answer as the music begins.

Hydrate: Keep water nearby and drink it generously, but only during breaks so the sound of your swallowing is not heard on the air (and if the water goes down the wrong pipe, your coughing will not interfere with your interview).

Don't Read from a Script: You may have sent the producer a list of questions in advance. If so, keep the list in front of you, but don’t read lengthy answers. Write a word or two that will prompt you to reply.

Keep Track: After two or three shows in one day, you may begin to wonder if you are repeating yourself. Make notes as you speak to remind yourself of what you said earlier.

Remember Names: Write the host’s name phonetically at the top of your note pad and use it during the show. Do the same with people who call in to ask you a question during the show.

Mind Your Body Language: Sit in a comfortable, quiet chair. If you gesture frequently, try standing as you speak. Keep your head high to open your breathing passages; relax your jaw muscles and you will speak more clearly.

Give Yourself Time: Do not schedule telephone interviews too closely together. Invariably, one will be delayed due to an unpredictable event, perhaps impinging on the time allocated to another show.

Be Polite: Rarely will you get bumped (canceled on short notice), but it can happen. If so, be polite and reschedule your show for another time.

Spell It Out: At the end of the show, you will get the chance to tell the listeners where they can find your book. Spell any words that may be confusing (For example: “My email address is michellegines60gmail.com. There is two ‘l’s’ in Michelle.”)

If you are thorough in your preparation, you are more likely to have a great show. The interview will be conducted between two professionals, both trying to create an interesting, informative and entertaining conversation to meet your respective objectives. When this occurs, you will be asked back to repeat your performance. And you may even sell some books.
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For more tips and tools, check back with Purpose Publishing at www.PurposePublishing.com

To Your Success,
MG

Five Tips to Improve Your Bookselling Efforts
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The reward of holding a copy of your published work is indescribable. But it’s just one of the many exciting milestones in your journey to self-publishing success. One key objective in your publishing journey is selling your book successfully. Here are five tips we think may help improve your efforts to increase book sales.

Build up your image as an author and a brand

Book buyers and readers gravitate to books—and authors—that appeal to them. The more you project yourself in a way that holds their attention, the more you gain their trust. Highlight the fact that you are now a published author. Add that to your email and forum signature lines. Don’t forget to add your website or social media profiles to here, as well as to your press release boilerplates. These may be small things, but they’re the building blocks to a positive image.

A quality 3rd-party review is important to successful bookselling

An honest and well-written 3rd-party review is invaluable. A positive review from a respected book reviewer will make your book stand out, improve its marketability and enhance your title’s, as well as your, reputation. Don’t be afraid to invite readers and indie reviewers to evaluate your book. Published reviews on sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstore bolsters the credibility of your book encouraging new readers to part with their money knowing that they will get a good read in return.

Librarians are your best customers—and allies

Librarians are savvy, well-informed book buyers. They are the favorites of the traditional publishing houses, small presses, and self-publishers. If librarians like your book and trust your brand, they will likely become some of your most effective bookselling allies. Their participation and support are valuable aids to your bookselling activities—sponsoring book signings, readings, meet-and-greet affairs, and Q&A activities at their libraries. So be sure to visit your local libraries and befriend your librarians.

Use your social media networks to connect and sell your book

While Purpose Publishing carries all the titles of its authors in its online bookstore and through its partnerships with Amazon and Barnes and Noble, one of the most effective ways to sell you book is through social media networking. Generate news, book-related updates, and positive reviews through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and to the other online communities you belong to. Social networks are also great places to meet fellow authors and find new opportunities for selling your book.

To Your Success,

MG

WHY DOESN’T MY BOOK SELL?
Imagine this: Your book is done, you’ve had your launch party, and it’s up on Amazon.

But no one buys your book.
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Don’t believe that would happen to you? Think again.

I’ve seen this story over and over again from disappointed writers. They’ve done their research, we’ve published the book, and followed all the steps. Their books are available for purchase — but when their sales are in the double or even single digits, that doesn’t feel like success.

If no one buys your book, it’s likely not because your book isn’t good (I’ve seen plenty of bad books that sold thousands of copies). It’s because you’re missing the most important things you need to publish your book successfully.

What does it take to publish successfully? I’ve found you need five things:

1. A piece of great writing. You want to publish something worth reading, a book readers won’t want to put down.
   
   
2. An audience of readers. Actually, publishers don’t find these for you. No matter how or when you publish, you will need to find the readers who will love your book.
   
   
3. A cartel to support you. A cartel is an agreement among competitors. Instead of fighting with other writers over an audience, create a cartel of writers to reach an even larger audience. Don’t hate, Collaborate.
   
   
4. Feedback. Writers don’t write in a vacuum. You need feedback to help you make your writing the best it can be, and your cartel is the perfect team to help you prepare your writing for publication.
   
   
5. A launch plan. Successful launches don’t just happen. You need a plan, a strategy to leverage your audience and your cartel to send your book out into the world (and sell a lot of copies!).
   
   

Here’s the painful truth: every time you publish without these five things, you actually get further from your goal of publishing success.

But when you write a book you believe in, get feedback to make it the best it can be, gather your cartel and your audience of readers, and plan a brilliant launch, you can release your book into the world with confidence.

Why? Because you’ll actually sell books — and best of all, readers will read them.

To Your Success,

MG
​
Excerpts from Joe Bunting, The Writer’s Practice, August 2017

"To YOUR Success" Blog

Focus on Being Productive, not just busy
Years ago, I wore being busy like a good medal. Do you or have you done too? A new study revealed that Americans, in particular, are no longer accepting being busy as an honor. Rather, the truth is that Americans who always say they’re “busy” are now not actually seen as more important.
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Multiple studies are showing that busyness isn’t actually good business, and here’s the main reason it isn't: we become less productive. We’re all susceptible to it, but If I’m saying to myself (and I have), “Woo, I’m busy; really busy,” I now ask myself, "doing what?". It's possible that I could be distracted and NOT doing the most important or most productive work that I should be doing. It seemed like I was doing more, but the real results was actually less.
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"Being busy and being productive are two different things." Unknown
 
Truth be told, not everyone wears being busy as a symbol of status. I started finding enjoyment by being more productive at a less busy pace. And you know what; I'm happier, healthier and more focused. You know my word, intentional. I've learned how to say "no" to being busy and overwhelmed without guilt or regret, you can too. It's called being intentional.
 
Here’s a few things I've learned and heard from others. I hope they'll help you to. Because we only have one life and it's important what I spend my time doing, it's a hot commodity. Whatever I dispense, I never get back. So I have to spend it all wisely. You have to know the difference in being busy and being productive in your own life.
 
Here's a few tips to determine the difference:
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1. Will what I'm doing right now matter one year from now or better yet, will it matter tomorrow?

2. What fruit will this activity produce? Knowing your desired outcome or goal before saying yes can help you say no more quickly.

3. Is this good for now or my epitaph? If what you're doing is just a good add in for your obituary, but won't add any life to you right now. It's just being busy.
 
Remember, productive is being able to look back and say that my time well spent. Any comments? Email me. Don't forget to Hashtag. #100books100authors

To Your Success,
MG

Author Feature: Dana Candillo​

Tools of the Trade
Having trouble figuring out what to do next or what to do first with your book? If so, consider doing a book blog tour. A very technically savvy way to share your book with others who will share your book with others. We’ve got a connect that’s already built in and ready to help you get going. Packages range from $150 to $550, and includes one week to one month tours. Other options include radio shows, Facebook chats, and live interviews. Check out the services with my sister, Pauline by clicking the link
http://wnlbooktours.com/virtual-tour-packages/

Authors Who Mean Business

Dana McCartney Candillo has had the honor of being interviewed on both TBN and on the 700 Club. Take a look at the interview she did. Purpose Publishing authors are finding opportunities to tell their stories and share them with the world.

"To YOUR Success" Blog

​Change is a New Opportunity
I have the pleasure of being a wife, mother of three, entrepreneur, Sunday school teacher, speaker and coach. And this is my short list. Do you identify? I'm sure most of you would agree that over time you've become something more, done much and proven to yourself (and others) that despite how long your list is now; you've changed. Your life has changed. Your world has changed. Your way has changed. If it hasn't, even just a little; maybe now is your time. I recently read a quote about change. It went like this:
 
The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.  Albert Einstein
 
I like what Albert Einstein had to say about change. Our thinking is a major part of the change we see or don't see.  Consider this, I imagine someone thought of 8 track tapes. Then, someone else thought of cassettes. Yet, someone else thought CDs and another thought mp3 downloads. Isn't that a trip. We've all changed, because the way we do things, changed. Often change comes not because you cause it, but because you have to. My mind is always wondering, "What will they think of next?" Do you think about that too? If so, I'm sure you've found that by the time you get the answer to the what next question, the answer shows up.
 
Purpose Publishing is changing too. We are changing the way we do business to offer our clients a better experience, increased opportunities and access to more resources. As you can see, the way we are communicating is changing. You won't get just a blog on book writing or coaching anymore, but you'll get me personally sharing a quick note. "Your Book is Your Business " newsletter will give you news, information, partnerships and resources to make your days of being and indie author even more valuable. Change shows growth, maturity and stamina. We haven't yet exhausted all that we can or will be. We're working on it, little by little.
 
We hope you like what you see. Change is our new opportunity and yours. Do you have areas in your that could stand some change? If so, start today. Like this blog, comment and share. We'd love to hear from you. Don't forget to Hashtag. #100books100authors

To Your Success,
MG

Author Feature: Susan Mintz

Tools of the Trade

Bookarma is connecting Books with Authors

​Bookarma (book-karma) is a highly social pay-it-forward platform that allows you to break through the boundaries of your own social network to reach new readers. Authors discover and share each others' books and earn karma every time they share. The more you share, the more others see your book! When other authors share your book on their social networks, your book is exposed to an entirely new audience that you could not reach on your own! Give it a try and see how you like it. It never hurts to Pay it Forward. Watch the video to see how it works, by clicking the link http://bookarma.net/how-it-works

Authors Who Mean Business
​Susan Mintz has been an amazing writer and speaker for years and she will be promoting her two books​ in Boca Raton, FL for a book signing on November 1, 2017.

"To YOUR Success" Blog

I want to start by saying thank you to all the authors for allowing us to assist them in bringing their books, stories and messages to life. It's because of their trust and confidence in us that we've been able to build an award-winning publishing firm. It's been a wonderful 7 years with lots of learning, studying, ups, downs, trials and triumphs. But in the end, we're still here helping others make their splash into the book industry. So, I want to share this quote with you that I found fitting for where we are today.
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"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."  Pele

I love what I get to do every day. It's the inspiring, coaching, sharing, promoting, praying for and patting people on the back for a job well done. Writing books is no easy work, just ask anyone that's done it. To kick off this inaugural issue of our newsletter, Your Book is Your Business. I want to salute the over 100 Authors & 100 Books we've had the opportunity to publish! There are many faces and many messages that have come across my desk, some started and some not. But for everyone that started and finished. This is YOUR standing ovation. October 2017 commemorates a huge milestone for us; accomplished only by achieving a milestone for you. We will be celebrating our authors for the remainder of the year!
 
So, make sure you tune in on Facebook, check your email inbox for an Author Featured each week,  gander through our new newsletter, Your Book is Your Business, biweekly. It'll be chock full of news and resources to support authors and speakers. Join our Purpose Promote FB group, a new place to share your books with others. And don't forget to like, comment and share our posts. Let's celebrate together.
Success is not an accident. Success is intentional. I wish you all, more and more success.
 
And again, I thank you for 100 Books and 100 Authors. Shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you. Don't forget to Hashtag. #100books100authors
 
To Your Success,

​MG

Tools of the Trade

Hometown Reads Helps You Reach More Readers
Interested in reaching more readers with your ideas & stories? Then you’ll want to stay in touch with Hometown Reads, as we develop a powerful, new book marketing platform filled with valuable, free resources. We seek to network with local authors in order to share ideas and generate buzz for books. Purpose Publishing just joined the local Kansas City Hometown Reads and we want to encourage you. Check them out by clicking the link, https://hometownreads.com/join/author
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​The 56-question Self-Publishing Survey targeted two subgroups: authors who have published at least one book (either self-published, traditionally published, or both), and aspiring independent authors who have not yet published a book. The online survey was conducted between October 24, 2016 – November 28, 2016, and was completed by 7,677 aspiring and published authors.


Reply back to this post to get your free copy of the report.


This report focuses primarily on revealing what marketing and promotional activities will enable self-publishers to increase exposure and sales of their titles. It examines the most popular marketing practices of the average author and the promotional activities employed by the most successful authors.


Today’s independent authors have a bounty of promotional and marketing tactics from which to choose, and it’s clear that very few are limiting themselves to just one or two options. Instead, to get the word out about their work, traditionally- and self-published authors alike are involved in everything from pre-sales and giveaways to launch parties and bookstore appearances.


Findings from the survey show that, on average, published authors engage in about 3.5 marketing tactics to promote their books. The research also shows that the most successful authors (those who have earned over $5,000 in sales in the past 12 months), are more active marketers than lower earners, engaging in 5.3 marketing activities per author compared to 2.2 activities respectively.


According to surveying agency, the variety of tactics authors employ may have something to do with the fact that self-published authors have more hope than ever that their efforts can blossom into a full-time career. “More self-publishers are taking their careers seriously these days,” he says. “Just as there are many different paths to fame and fortune in self-publishing, there are also many different paths to finding yourself in a traditional book deal.”


That said, a few specific tactics are especially popular with today’s authors. Soliciting book reviews stood out as the most common promotional effort among published authors. Published authors also expressed a strong predilection for social media as a marketing platform.


Number one tactic- Requests for book reviews


Given the importance of discoverability for authors who sell the majority of their print or eBooks through e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.com and its Amazon Kindle Store, it is not surprising that 51% of published authors responded that they have actively solicited reviews for their books. A good deal of those resulting reviews appear to be having the intended effect: 53% of those same published authors found their efforts to solicit reviews either “moderately effective” or “very effective.”


When soliciting book reviews, authors split their time fairly evenly among approaching book bloggers, Amazon reviewers, and beta readers. A good bit of weight is afforded to the opinions of book bloggers, who have been contacted by 42% of published authors in search of reviews. Yet there’s one group that receives book review requests with even more frequency than bloggers: friends and family. Over 61% of published authors have asked friends or family members to review their books.


To a large degree, authors who have been both traditionally- published and self-published have few qualms about earning negative book reviews, as long as the reviews continue to come in. When presented with the statement, “I would rather receive zero reviews on my book than any negative ones,” 63% disagreed or strongly disagreed with that statement.


So, in a nutshell ask people to review your book and share feedback on social media platforms and complete the review online through Amazon are great ways to drive more sales.


To Your Success,

MG

How to get visibility for your book from a reader's point of view.
 
Book Sales Stale?  Speaking engagements non-existent? 
 
Well it is time to TALK IT UP!  What is talking it up?  Well I'm a reader.  I am the kind of customer that you are trying to reach.  When I find out that one of my favorite authors is launching a book I am getting in line!  I start checking the library, Amazon and other places. 
 
How do I find out about new books?  Well straight from social media!  I follow publishers and authors. The authors I follow are always sharing their writing processes, photos, launch dates,  WHERE you can find their books, pictures of them in stores where they found their books on the shelves or videos or their book search, etc.  Many of them share a little bit about their personal lives too. They become REAL PEOPLE to me.  I personally want a book written by a real person vs a person only in it for the money.
 
What else makes them real to me? Many of them respond to requests and questions online.  They even ask the US THE READERS what we would like to see a character do in an upcoming book.  We can even ask questions for our book clubs to help end a debate. 
 
What kinds of authors do I not support? Personally I am not a fan of authors that use profanity to express themselves.  I feel like the dictionary has enough words to choose from. Also I avoid authors that PUSH their books like used car salesmen.  I need to know HOW I will benefit from reading your book.  Yes I’m looking for little nuggets in every book I touch.
 
So, now you know what we avid readers are looking for.  Hope it helps.
 
#keepgainingmomentum

There’s an actual science behind promoting your book on Twitter — or more accurately, there’s enough good data out there to inform how you approach using Twitter as an author.
To make the most of your social media time, you want to maximize the effectiveness of each and every tweet. But how?

First, you should schedule your tweets at peak hours to get them in front of the most eyes. Second, you want to craft tweets that encourage action (retweeting, purchasing, replying, etc.)!

7 ways to smarten-up your book promotion on Twitter:
1. Longer tweets get more clicks. Internet marketers like to tell you to keep things short. But a tweet is only 140 characters, so it’s one of the few cases online where you actually benefit from using all the space you’re allotted.

2. Use more verbs. Less nouns. We’re emotionally stirred by action! So make your tweets sing, screech, punch, and dance.

3. Tweet in the afternoon and evening. After 2pm, Twitter traffic increases fairly dramatically. Maybe folks feel like they’ve got enough work done for the day that they can afford to sneak in 5 minutes on Twitter. So schedule your tweets with those people in mind.

4. Tweet closer to the weekend. As the workweek draws to a close, Twitter traffic soars — with Friday being the busiest day. So your heaviest Twitter activity should be on Thursday and Friday.

5. Ask for the retweet (“pls RT”). A lot of times in life the simplest way to get something is to ask. The same goes for Twitter. People are far more likely to retweet your content if you ask them.

6. Spread tweets out by at least 1 hour. You want to get the most people possible to see your tweets. By spreading out your Twitter activity by at least an hour, you’re increasing the likelihood of different folks seeing your activity. Plus you’re not annoying your followers by cluttering up their news feeds all at once.

7. Try putting the link towards the beginning of the tweet. Sure, 60-80% of your tweets should link to interesting content. But there’s also evidence to suggest that you should place that URL towards the beginning of your tweet. In many A/B tests between similar tweets, the one with the URL up front performed better.

​Each summer, Powell Gardens does a "Garden Chef Series" that is a perfect pairing of the season's choice produce grown at their Heartland Harvest Garden with local chefs and cookbook authors. This year, Cook 2 Flourish Cookbook authors, Robin and Julie Cook were privileged to present a healthy, delicious cooking demonstration featuring their new cookbook recipes. To get a taste of the flavors and fun, please visit Robin's blog: cook2flourish

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by Stephanie Bauchum

Social media marketing doesn’t always play to most writers’ strengths, but having a plan and a goal can help you effectively market your book on Twitter.
Looking to market your book on Twitter but not sure how to begin? Here are nine things to consider.
 
1. Be a thought leader

You don’t always have to come up with original content to establish yourself as a thought leader. Tweet links to current news in your industry to keep your followers up-to-date and show you know what’s going on outside your own four walls.

You should also Tweet content that makes you look smart and well-connected. If you have members of your team who are considered industry experts, give them some Twitter love when they speak at conferences, publish an article or blog post, or get recognized for an award.

Beyond Twitter, writing a guest post on a highly trafficked blog is a great way to garner some free company publicity and position yourself as a thought leader.

2. Engage your audience

Twitter is a two-way conversation: it is not meant to be your personal megaphone. If someone on Twitter mentions you or your book in a tweet – positive or negative – try to respond in real time. It’s a chance for you to show you’re involved and that you care.

3. Show some personality

Nobody wants to read a bunch of dry robotic tweets. Create a personality for you and your “brand” and give it a voice. If you have multiple people manning your Twitter feed, make sure they all know what you’re striving for and that they remain consistent with that voice. The trick is to bring the personality without allowing things to get personal.

4. Drive traffic to your content

If you’re not using Twitter to drive traffic to your content, you’re really missing the boat. You can promote the same piece of content multiple times by changing the text in the tweet and scheduling posts in different time zones. Try using the #ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) hashtag on recycled posts so people know they’re not new.

5. Scout other authors

See how other authors are using Twitter and scout what people are saying about them by searching their name, titles, and any hashtags they use regularly.

6. Keep it to 120 characters or less

There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to retweet a tweet that uses the full 140 characters allowed by Twitter. Bear in mind that Twitter adds your Twitter handle, an “RT,” a space, and a colon when someone retweets. If you keep your tweets to 120 characters or less, you’ll maximize your chance of a retweet.

7. It’s not all about you

Your content and books are awesome, but please don’t tweet about yourself ad nauseam. Your Twitter feed needs to tell a story when someone reads through a week’s worth of tweets. Make sure that story isn’t all about you.
 
8. Schedule for all time zones

Just because you’re awake at 7 am on a Friday, doesn’t mean the rest of the world is. Be conscious of who will see your tweets, and at what time. Use a good organizing tool to help you schedule tweets in all relevant time zones – and for goodness’ sakes, don’t schedule five tweets at the exact same time!

9. Pin a tweet

If you have a specific tweet that’s generating a lot of engagement, or you want to be sure anyone who visits your Twitter page sees a specific tweet, you can pin that tweet to the top of your feed. Find the tweet you’d like to be featured, click on the three dots (ellipses in the bottom right corner of the tweet), and choose “Pin to your profile page.” Refresh your page and voila! That tweet is now pinned to the top of your feed.