Book Sales Getting Musty?

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Adapted from the multi award-winning Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo)

In the world of publishing as in life, persistence counts. Of course, there is no way to keep a book at the top of the charts forever, but if you keep reviving it, you might hold a classic in your hands. Or your marketing efforts for one book may propel your next one to greater heights.


I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen authors who measure their success by book sales give up on their book (and sometimes on writing) just about the time their careers are about ready to take off. I tell my students and clients to fight the it’s-too-late-urge.


Publicity is like the little waves you make when you toss pebbles into a lake. The waves travel, travel, travel and eventually come back to you. If you stop lobbing little stones, you lose momentum. It’s never too late and it’s never too early to promote. Rearrange your thinking. Marketing isn’t about a single book. It’s about building a career. And new books can build on the momentum created by an earlier book, if you keep the faith. Review the marketing ideas in this book, rearrange your schedule and priorities a bit, and keep at it.

Here are a few keep-at-it ideas.

  • Run a contest on your Web site, on Twitter, or in your newsletter. Use your books for prizes or get cross-promotion benefits by asking other authors for books; many will donate one to you in trade for the exposure. Watch the 99 Cent Stores for suitable favors to go with them.
Hint: Any promotion you do including a contest is more powerful when you call on your friends to tell their blog visitors or Facebook pals about it.


  • Barter your books or your services for exposure on other authors’ Web sites.
  • Post your flier, brochure, or business card on bulletin boards everywhere: In grocery stores, coffee shops, Laundromats, car washes, and bookstores.
  • Offer classes in writing to your local high school, college, or library system. Publicizing them is easy and free. When appropriate, use your own book as suggested reading. The organization you are helping will pitch in by promoting your class. The network you build with them and your students is invaluable. Use this experience in your media kit to show you have teaching and presentation skills.
  • Slip automailers into each book you sell or give away for publicity. Automailers are envelopes that are pre-stamped, ready to go. Your auto mailer asks the recipient to recommend your book to someone else. Your mailer includes a brief synopsis of your book, a picture of the cover of your book, your book’s ISBN, ordering information, a couple of your most powerful blurbs, and a space for the reader to add her handwritten, personal recommendation. Make it clear in the directions that the reader should fill out the form, address the envelope, and mail it to a friend. You may offer a free gift for helping out, but don’t make getting the freebie too tough. Proof-of-purchase type schemes discourage your audience from participating.
  • Send notes to your friends and readers asking them to recommend your book to others. Or offer them a perk like free shipping, gift wrap, or small gift if they purchase your book for a friend. That’s an ideal way to use those contact lists you’ve been building.
  • While you’re working on the suggestion above, put on your thinking cap. What directories have you neglected to incorporate into your contact list? Have you joined any new groups since your book was published? Did you ask your grown children for lists of their friends? Did you include lists of old classmates?
  • Though it may be a bit more expensive than some ideas in this book, learn more about Google’s AdWords and AdSense. Learn about these opportunities on your Google account page. Many authors of niche nonfiction or fiction that can be identified with often-searched-for keywords find this advertising program effective.
  • Check out ad programs like Amazon’s Vine review service. You agree to provide a certain number of books to Amazon and pay them a fee for the service. Amazon arranges the reviews for you. It’s expensive, but it gets your book exposed to Amazon’s select cadre of reviewers who not only write reviews for your Amazon sales page but also may start (or restart!) a buzz about your book.
  • Some of your reviews (both others’ reviews of your book and reviews you’ve written about others’ books) have begun to age from disuse. Start posting them (with permission from the reviewer) on Web sites that allow you to do so. Check the guidelines for my free review service blog at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com.
  • Connect and reconnect. Start reading blogs and newsletters you once subscribed to again. Subscribe to a new one. Join a writers’ group or organization related to the subject of your book.
  • Record a playful message about your book on your answering machine.
  • When you ship signed copies of your book, include a coupon for the purchase of another copy for a friend—signed and dedicated—or for one of your other books. Some distributors insert fliers or coupons into your books when they ship them for a fee.
  • Adjust the idea above to a cross-promotional effort with a friend who writes in the same genre as you. He puts a coupon for your book in his shipments; you do the same for him in yours.
  • Explore the opportunities for speaking on cruise ships. Many have cut back on the number of speakers they use, but your area of expertise may be perfect for one of them. I tried it, but found ship politics a drawback. Still many authors like Allyn Evans who holds top honors in Toastmasters and Erica Miner have used these venues successfully. For help with the application process from beginning to end, contact Daniel Hall at speakerscruisefree.com.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been promoting her own books and helping clients promote theirs for nearly a decade. Her marketing plan for the 2nd in the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor) won the New Millennium Award for Marketing. Learn more about her at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

A CBM Press Release - My Sons Are Jewish - The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Author Paula Clayman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
( A Christian Book Marketing Press Release )
October 27, 2011

My Sons Are Jewish - The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Author Paula Clayman

ISBN# 978-0-7684-3906-9
Adapted from book review

Author Paula Clayman releases My Sons Are Jewish - The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith. A must-read for every Christian practicing the Judeo-Christian faith. Enlightening, unique and enriching this book will not only lay the foundation for the Christian faith, but gives insight and thorough understanding of the Jewish people and their prominence in history. With this book you will find an increased faith in God, a deeper appreciation for God and His love for the Jewish people. A profound appreciation for His chosen people is also keenly acquired through this informative book.

Author Paula Clayman invites the reader on a journey to discover, not only the Jewish roots of the Christian faith and answers the question of "Who is a Jew", but additionally, she delivers a noteworthy book by giving the reader God's plan of salvation to humanity through the Jewish people. Without the knowledge of the love of God towards the Jewish people and knowledge of the covenant given to Abraham and how all people of the world be blessed through that promise, recognition of who the Jewish people are would be severely lacking. Distinctive and impressive, this book is an absorbing and fascinating easy-read that gives a comprehensive history of the Jewish heritage and lineage. Without this heritage and lineage of the Jewish people, it would be easy to miss the love, dedication and reason to pray for Israel and why God's chosen people are at the very core of Christianity.

Rich with scripture and history, the author masterfully weaves the divine thread that connects Christian believers and Jews alike to the Messiah thereby establishing the Jewish lineage and heritage. The book begins first with a detailed biblical overview of God's plan of salvation to humanity through Adam. However, God's plan of salvation did not stop with the fall of Adam in the garden, but continued through to Noah, then through Abraham and on to Judah and then ultimately through David and the Davidic throne of David.

This book is paramount in understanding the role that the Jewish people play in God's plan of salvation. The author shares her vast knowledge of the subject of the Jewish lineage through many years of studying the scriptures, The Torah and many other books. She shares openly with the readers that her husband and sons are also Jewish which led her on this journey to discover their Jewish roots and hers as well, being a Christian.

This book is also a very powerful scriptural teaching that gives biblical insight into the truth of God's word, His love of His chosen people and how all people of the world are blessed through that Promise given to Abraham. A highly recommended must-read book for every Christian or Jewish person seeking a deeper relationship and walk with God.

For more information visit http://www.paulaclayman.com/
A Christian Book Marketing Press Release

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Author Book Marketing That Goes The Extra Miles

I came by this site that offered author promotions and book marketing on 20 sites for 3 months. The price seemed fair, however, what about the additional 9 months of the year? In comparing the marketing prices to others I found that while the three month marketing price seemed reasonable, in the long run or shall I say short run, it fell short.

What if it were possible to get your book marketed on 100 sites for one full year and at a cost that is author friendly? What if this could be accomplished without monthly or quarterly renewal fees 90 days down the road? 365 days of online marketing is by far better than 90 days. Plus what about all those broken links if at the end of the 90 days you decide not to renew the marketing? That could be devastating.

Take the challenge, your book on 100 sites for one full year. Regardless of what you have authored, contact Christian Book Marketing and let's put a marketing program into place for you that will promote your book without digging deep into your pockets. You can also email us at kingdomexpansion1@gmail.com

Author Promotional Printing Needs, Don't Pay The High Prices

Yesterday, I had a conversation with someone that I admire and respect with regards to the cost of author promotions and book marketing that is being offered by various online publishers (print on demand and other) and we both found that many authors are buying into marketing ad ons at some very unreasonable prices. This included author websites, book trailer productions, farmed out book reviews, press releases and other marketing goodies to include printing needs, author business cards, book markers, post card promotionals and other marketed related promotional print items.

Take the time to visit Vista Print with regards to your printing needs and you will save a huge amount of money. You can open a account for free, use their design templates, create and order many various promotional items and they even have free offers. I have used them many times with great success and satisfaction.

With regards to your book review needs, press releases, book trailer productions and help with online author promotions and book marketing, contact Christian Book Marketing. They help authors of all kinds.

Let Us Help You Promote Your Christian Book

If you need marketing services to help promote your book, contact Smitty at Christian Book Marketing. From book reviews, author press releases, book trailer productions, author website creations, author blogs to expanded author promotions and online book marketing, Christian Book Marketing can open doors for more viability and sales of your book. Contact Smitty at kingdomexpansion1@gmail.com and talk to him about what he can do for you and the success of your book.

Powerful And Effective Book Trailers Without The Thousand Dollar Price Tag

Without mentioning the site and I know that 99.999% of all authors would know that site by name, I just a few days ago decided to check out their services and prices with book trailers running between $1,000.00 and $2,000.00 ... OUCH!

Authors, do not spend that kind of money on a book trailer unless you just have to make a personal statement and need the write off. Why?

Well for one, how many books, taking cost into account, would you have to sell to recoup that kind of money? Bye-Bye royalties.
 
A book trailer should be affordable, powerful and effective without paying some over-rated price. Don't be taken advantage of.

Most viewers are not interested in the Grammy style book trailer with the latest and greatest effects. They are looking to take a peek into your book, not be swallowed up in some intense movie trailer.

Over-kill. Don't try to come off as some #1 best selling author because book lovers are just not that easily fooled.

That kind of money would be better spent on more effective author promotions and book marketing like a book review, press release, book trailer and some expanded online marketing for around the same price or less.

If you are looking for an affordable, effective, yet powerful book trailer contact Christian Book Marketing. They can produce a cost effective book trailer that will share your book with book lovers without the over-rated price. They also have the ability to use your book trailer as a powerful marketing tool and get you some expanded book exposure.
You can email them at kingdomexpansion1@gmail.com .

Take The Christian Author Book Marketing Challenge

If you need marketing services to help promote your book, contact Smitty at Christian Book Marketing. From book reviews, author press releases, book trailer productions, author website creations, author blogs to expanded author promotions and online book marketing, Christian Book Marketing can open doors for more viability and sales of your book. Contact Smitty at kingdomexpansion1@gmail.com and talk to him about what he can do for you and the success of your book.

Compulsive Reader Reviews Expanded Second Edition of Frugal Book Promoter




Reviewed by Magdalena Ball

The Frugal Book Promoter: Second Edition: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher
by Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Amazon link: http://www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
CreateSpace
Paperback: 416 pages, August 25, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1463743291
Also available for Kindle

It doesn't matter how many books you've published. Self-published or traditionally published, gaining publicity is always tricky, always critical, and always a moving target. If your budget is limited, it's even harder, and perhaps, even more imperative. Enter Carolyn Howard-Johnson, the queen of frugal promotion. Her frugal books are pitched at the modern writer: time poor, financially parsimonious, and publicity hungry. The Frugal Book Promoter is the jewel in the crown. As with the first version, The Frugal Book Promoter is full of ideas, strategies, and tips for promoting your book cheaply, in innovative and effective ways, but it has been updated with a much greater focus on new technologies, the all-important social networks, and a range of strategies designed to help authors with less commercial offerings such as poetry and fiction.

Of course the book is rich with classic techniques too, such as media releases, query letters, and a whole fantastic chapter pulling together a media kit. There's information on using bylines, writing a biography, obtaining endorsements and blurbs, distribution of releases, obtaining reviews, tradeshows, book fairs, setting up a website, and many more 'must-do' items that have really become part and parcel of any author's promotional toolkit. Ignore this kind of stuff and unless you win some kind of book lotto, your book will almost certainly fall into the obscurity that is an ever-present risk of modern authordom. What I like best about Howard-Johnson's book is the simple, informal prose which is both warmly reassuring ('of course you can do this'), and deceptively intelligent. The reader is encouraged and reminded of his or her own innate capabilities even as they're goaded onto to raising the bar:


You’ve been practicing PR most of your life. Getting along with family. Impressing a new boss. You’ve been a customer and know why you like some products and businesses better than others. All it takes is some examination of the processes that influence you to get a grip on public relations—even on marketing as a whole.
The new version also contains a chapter on some of the most current topics, including information on blogging, working Amazon, using social networks, and even some common pitfalls to avoid in blogging and networking. Howard-Johnson totally practices what she preaches, so her advice comes directly from her many years of experience, and is rich with innovative ideas to minimise the time involved and maximise the input through such things as integration and cross-linking, clever use of soundbites and re-tweetable tweets, setting up a "Quotable Quotes” page on your Web site (I love that one), using RSS, and many other novel ideas. Throughout the book there are links, anecdotes, worked examples, and excellent templates including queries, a sample media release, blog entries, invitations, and even a tip sheet.

No, you don't really need a copy of The Frugal Book Promoter. You could hire a publicist for $100 an hour, or organise a retainer for anywhere from $1,500 to $20,000. But if you're looking to do your own publicity, or to augment your publishers and don't have the kind of budget that can support a publicist, or you simply want to do the legwork, connect with your reading public, and do your best to ensure that your wonderful work of art reaches a maximum audience, then this book is really the self-promoter's bible. You don't have to read it cover to cover, although it's certainly accessible and enjoyable enough to do so. The book is well-referenced and perfectly designed to enable the frugal author to dip in once a week and pull out a new publicity idea to try, or to use as a reference when it's time to pull together a marketing plan for your book, or at that moment when you need to write a press-release and want a template and guide, when you're looking for ideas to maximise your book signing. Whatever kind of promotions you want to do for your book, you're sure to find it in The Frugal Book Promoter. Howard-Johnson makes it all sound simple, and provides such easy instructions, that you'll want to go out straightaway and get to it. Put simply, The Frugal Book Promoter is the best guide around for create interesting, fresh, inexpensive, and relatively easy promotion for your book, whatever the genre.


~Magdalena Ball runs the popular review site Compulsive Reader and is an award-winning author and poet in her own right.

Dynamic Book Covers That Reflect The Vision And Passion Of Your Message

Your book cover is prime real estate in every book marketing campaign. In fact, it has only eight seconds to capture a reader's attention. With such importance, every Christian author needs a Christian cover designer who knows the Word, understands marketing, and is a skilled graphic artist.

Lisa Hainline can do all of this. With over 35 years of experience as a graphic artist, she gives glory to God continually for her creative gifts and the opportunity to help others glorify God through them. She can design you a dynamic book cover that reflects the vision and passion of your message.

Contact Lisa at lisa@lisahainline.com for a free consultation and price quote or visit Lisa at Lisa Hainline.com. Simply let Lisa know that Christian Book Marketing referred you.

Internet Book Marketing, Christian Books

Internet Book Marketing for the Christian author.

It's a huge ocean out there online with millions upon millions of daily users. Just imagine if even a small percentage of those users were to find your authors website, blog or authors page. That would be awesome.

Here are just a few places where you can share your books with millions of users while building your own small network. If you need help building a network, a authors website, authors blog, authors page or with some expanded online marketing. Come visit us. We also create book trailers, offer professional book reviews, press releases and other great services.

Christian Book Marketing helping authors to get the WORD out.
Email kingdomexpansion1@gmail.com for further info.


Check out these sites:


~ The AuthorsDen - Over 1,400,000 visitors monthly.
~ Faith Writers - Instant Exposure To Publishers and Readers.
~ Christian Author Book Marketing - Create a page and share.
~ Author Nation - Online community for authors, writers and poets.
~ Goodreads - For book lovers
~ Twitter - Check out AuthorBookPromo
~ ShoutLife - Social Networking.
~ Blog Catalog - Bringing bloggers and readers together.
~ Stumble Upon - Social Networking and more.
~ Blogger - Build a authors blog
~ WordPress - Build a authors blog

Internet Book Marketing, Christian Books




Internet Book Marketing for the Christian author.

It's a huge ocean out there online with millions upon millions of daily users. Just imagine if even a small percentage of those users were to find your authors website, blog or authors page. That would be awesome.

Here are just a few places where you can share your books with millions of users while building your own small network. If you need help building a network, a authors website, authors blog, authors page or with some expanded online marketing. Come visit us. We also create book trailers, offer professional book reviews, press releases and other great services.

Christian Book Marketing helping authors to get the WORD out.


~ The AuthorsDen - Over 1,400,000 visitors monthly.
~ Faith Writers - Instant Exposure To Publishers and Readers.
~ Christian Author Book Marketing - Create a page and share.
~ Author Nation - Online community for authors, writers and poets.
~ Goodreads - For book lovers
~ Twitter - Check out AuthorBookPromo
~ ShoutLife - Social Networking.
~ Blog Catalog - Bringing bloggers and readers together.
~ Stumble Upon - Social Networking and more.
~ Blogger - Build a authors blog
~ WordPress - Build a authors blog

Author Book Reviews Are Powerful and a Powerful Marketing Tool


Book reviews are powerful. We see them everywhere. On Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, on author related websites, blogs, in communities, social communities and on other great sites. So why do best selling authors and publishers use book reviews? Because they are powerful and are a powerful marketing tool.

Check out Christian Book Reviews before choosing your next book reviewer. You might find everything that you need in one simple service. Be sure to check out the expanded book review packages and see the book review samples at the bottom of the page. Christian Book Marketing's book reviews come with free book review marketing on selected sites, plus the book review is posted on your Amazon page.

Take advantage of our 50 site book review marketing package and use the power of book review marketing to get the word out or take it to the limit and have your book review placed on 100 separate sites for one full year.

Christian Book Reviews, helping authors get the WORD out. Email kingdomexpansion1@gmail.com for further information.

Online Conference Offers Free Workshops

What an exciting time in the publishing world! I'd like to personally welcome you to our book marketing community and thank you for your interest in the 3rd Annual Book Marketing Conference Online!

 We are so fortunate to have 14 book marketing experts

who are willing to share their wisdom and experience with us. They include Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning Frugal Book Promoter. She frequently contributes to this blog. You are in for a treat!


New Video and Special Bonuses Added

If you have not seen the new video or the list of special bonuses now available, please take a moment to visit:


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Bonus Workshop Added - Monday, October 3rd, 7:00 PM Eastern

While you have full access to the three pre-conference workshops,

many of our new members have requested access to a live workshop

before the conference begins.


I'm happy to oblige by offering a free bonus workshop, in addition to

the three workshops available, just below the video, details at:

http://bookmarketingConference.com/details

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New - Special Bonuses now available to Conference Attendees

 If you have already reserved your Sapphire, Gold, or Platinum

access pass for the book conference, you can access these

seven special bonuses via the "Your Member Benefits" page.


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Here are the details for Monday's workshop. See you there!

  • Monday - October 3rd - 7:00 PM Eastern
    "Pre-Conference Bonus Workshop: Cool Tools for Authors
    Plus - Book Marketing Conference Highlights"

Workshop Access and Event Brochure at:



We'll see you soon!

All the best,

D'vorah
~.~.~.~.~.
D'vorah Lansky, M.Ed., Bestselling Author, and Event Founder and Host


Mystery Writer Review Book on Ahem! Marketing Books!

The Frugal Book Promoter: Second Edition: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher.

Writers' Tricks of the Trade: Carolyn Howard-Johnson gives marketing advice
By Morgan St. James, originally for the Las Vegas Examiner
A few years ago I met author, promoter and writing instructor Carolyn Howard-Johnson when she presented workshops at the Las Vegas Writers Conference. We’ve since become friends and follow milestones in each other’s careers.
Carolyn is the author of books that are tremendously helpful, particularly for the writer who must stay on a budget. One of her books, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won’t, is on my own bookshelf with lots of bright orange sticky notes marking passages that I go back to again and again. It is also listed in the bibliography at the back of my new book Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction. As you can tell, I cherish her solid advice.
Her books that relate to the real world
In this tight economy and fierce competition for the readers’ dollars, we need every edge we can possibly find. In Carolyn's new book, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Get Nearly Free Publicity On Your Own Or Partnering With Your Publisher, she relates to the dynamic changes that have occurred over the past few years in the way we do business. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy and delighted to see that one of the people she dedicates this book to is Trudy McMurrin, a very talented editor I had the pleasure of knowing. Trudy influenced the way many writers developed their skills, and her life was claimed by cancer much too soon in 2009 .
Here is why I suggest adding Carolyn’s books to your writers’ library.
She approaches her topics in plain language, something I really like, and fills them with real-world common sense. I do that, in my own books and columns because hyperbole and lofty writing are not the way to teach in my opinion.Give me plain talk any day!
She doesn’t advocate that the author “run willy-nilly” and break the rules of PR (public relations.) Instead, she says as a creative author you can take the rules and turn what might have been the tinkle of bells into the sound of timpani for everyone you want to reach. She further states that the idea that authors can’t promote is anything but the truth, and cites Mark Twain as one of the best at putting himself out there.
There are two big words the author needs to have at the front of their consciousness at all times: branding and networking. In simple language, figure out who you are—your strengths, who you want to reach, how you want them to perceive you which will give them a reason to believe they can’t go one more day without putting your book in their collection. Then network, network, network. The best branding in the world is no good if the message isn’t circulating.
It reminds me of the bit of advice I always spout.
No one is going to knock at your door and say, “I understand you just wrote a book. Please let me buy a copy.” Of course, it could be Aunt Sadie who lives close by because your mother just told her about the book, but that's not reaching your market.
Let the world know what you’re doing and enlist the help of others to spread the word.
The new edition of The Frugal Book Promoter is broken down into well organized sections:
  • Section I Getting Started and Getting On with It
  • Section II Plunging In: Publicity Basics Now
  • Section III Do-It-Yourself and Partner Publicity
  • Section IV Promote Your Book by Doing What You Love
  • Section V You and the Media
  • Section VI Well Traveled, Oft Forgotten
  • Section VII Onward and Upward
This book is an absolute treasure trove and with two new books to promote myself, I can’t wait to start marking the pages and putting her sage advice to use.
The release of her new book will be announced in this column, on my blog and in the newsletter. Incidentally, Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a guest contributor for the October issue of the Writers’ Tricks of the Trade Newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to the Writers' Tricks of the Trade blog for posts and newsletters to be delivered to you automatically when published.
~For more information about Morgan St. James, visit www.morganstjames-author.com website or the Silver Sisters Mysteries website. Morgan frequently speaks and gives workshops for published and aspiring writers at conferences and events. Her next appearance will be at Partners in Crime, Sydney, Australia on September 11. Information on her website.
Because of the popularity of Writers' Tricks of the Trade, she has recently added a blog, newsletter and the just-released Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction book., available in paperback, eBook and Kindle. The hilarious third Silver Sisters Mystery, Vanishing Act in Vegas, was also released in August.