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Volume 5, Issue 9 October 2007
The BookMark is our free monthly newsletter featuring news and information of use to publishers, authors, retailers, and others involved in the publishing industry. On the first of every month, The BookMark will deliver useful tips, helpful news, and upcoming events directly to your electronic in-box. If you would like to receive a free copy of the The BookMark in your monthly e-mail, please visit http://www.bookmasters.com/subscribe.htm and complete the subscription form.IN THIS ISSUE: Industry News & Events
- Your Book Marketing Plan - Winning Strategies and Tips
- BookMasters/AtlasBooks to Attend Frankfurt, Germany Book Fair
- Upcoming Events
Your Book Marketing Plan - Winning Strategies and Tips
Many authors hit a roadblock when it comes to putting together and implementing a book marketing plan. They know they need to have one, and they have a vague idea of what the plan needs to include. But pulling it all together into a step-by-step plan of attack is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
A good starting point is to break your marketing plan up into major categories. From there, you can further define and set up strategies for each area of your book marketing plan.
The first thing that comes to mind for most authors and self publishers is bookstore sales. Makes sense, doesn't it? That's where people buy books, don't they? It's true that making your book available to the general public through bookstores is a very vital component of your marketing plan. However, it is just that—one single component of your plan. There are many elements that will make up your book marketing plan and arranging to have your book available in bookstores is just one of them. Let's call that component Number1:
Book Marketing Plan Component Number 1: Make books available in bookstores.
Now, it's one thing to secure placement for your book on the bookstore shelves, but now how are people going to know it's there? Customers can't (and won't) buy something they've never heard of. This is where the publicity component of your book marketing plan comes into play. Setting up an ongoing publicity campaign is the number one way to drive customers to the bookstore to buy your book. We'll call this component Number 2:
Book Marketing Plan Component Number 2: Set up and implement a successful publicity campaign.
Besides book stores, you can also sell your books to nontraditional book buyers like display retailers, book clubs, catalogs, gift retailers, volume buyers (think Costco and Price Club), corporations, foundations, and foreign markets. Many thousands of books are sold to buyers like these all the time, and targeting these buyers should make up a good portion of your book marketing plan. This will be component Number 3:
Book Marketing Plan Component Number 3: Market and sell to nontraditional buyers.
In this day and age, you would be making a big mistake if you didn't include the Internet as a vital component of your book marketing plan. The Internet is the best way to directly reach your target customers. It is also the best way to sell to them since you cut out any third parties and retain 100 percent of the profits. Also a dedicated Web site will go far in helping to market your book. There are many ways to research the Internet to ensure that there is a demand for your book and the best ways to fill that demand.
Book Marketing Plan Component Number 4: Use the Internet to promote and sell your book.
These are the four most important components of your book marketing plan. Now you must research each component individually to customize the approach you take for your book.
© Copyright 2004, Ink Tree Ltd., which helps authors publish, market and sell books. Visit their Web site at www.inktreemarketing.com.
BookMasters/AtlasBooks to Attend Frankfurt, Germany Book Fair
Deb Keets, Operations Manager of BookMasters' Publishing Services, and Randy McKenzie, National Sales Manager of AtlasBooks, will attend the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany from October 10–14. The event claims to be the world's largest marketplace for trading in publishing rights and licenses. Authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, agents, and readers from around the world will be in attendance.
Events like this offer a great opportunity for Deb and Randy to talk with many publishers as well as meet with individuals and organizations that wish to discuss our printing, composition, distribution, and sales services. If you would like to set up a specific appointment with them, e-mail dkeets@bookmasters.com, or call 800-537-6727 or 419-281-5100.
October 10–14, 2007
Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt, Germany
www.frankfurt-book-fair.comNovember 9–11, 2007
Miami Book Fair International, Miami, Florida
www.miamibookfair.comNovember 10, 2007
Kentucky Book Fair, Frankfort, Kentucky
www.kybookfair.comJanuary 30–February 2, 2008
Association of Writers and Writing Programs' Conference and Bookfair, New York, New York
www.awpwriter.org/conference/2008bookfairApril 14–16, 2008
London Book Fair, Earls Court London, England
www.londonbookfair.co.ukMay 29–June 1, 2008
BookExpo America, Los Angeles, California
www.bookexpoamerica.comJune 13–16, 2008
BookExpo Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
www.bookexpo.caThis calendar was up-to-date and accurate as of October 3, 2007. Information was culled from a number of sources. BookMasters cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the information within. Please visit the listed Web sites for more information.
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