Published by deborah.woehr on 03 Feb 2006 at 07:55 pm
The Secret to Your Success
Clive Allen voiced his frustration with the traditional publishing industry in that they don’t take chances with new ideas or new authors. While I agree with him on that issue, I’m not going to discuss it. I’m going to talk about a statement I read twice today.
Most writers are as poor as churchmice.
How does that statement make you feel? Do you accept it as a fact and move on? Does it make you feel lowly and unworthy of respect?
It pisses me off because it seems that the majority of the writers I meet online embrace this sad, pathetic stereotype rather than facing what they’re really poor at and solving the problem. Money isn’t the real issue, but the lack of education and/or confidence.
Most of the writers I’ve seen online have no clue how to market their books. I came to this conclusion sometime in 2003, as I was finishing the fifth or sixth draft of my novel. Right around that time, I discovered Internet Marketing and direct mail. I became obsessed with learning how to market my book and still am.
I’ve spent thousands of dollars on marketing courses and books. I’m not suggesting that you do the same (please don’t unless you can), but you can start off by signing up for free newsletters. Here are some links to the best resources I’ve found.
Internet Marketing Center: Corey Rudl started off his multi-million dollar business by self-publishing a book.
Dan Kennedy: Dan has over 30 years experience with direct mail and marketing. Dan has several books listed on Amazon. The information he shares is priceless.
Yanik Silver: Yanik built his business by self-publishing ebooks on various topics.
Mark Victor Hansen: Mark is the co-author for the extremely popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series. The link I gave will take you to his products for authors. Click on the Home link to get his newsletter.
John Kremer’s Book Marketing Update
Book Marketing Profits
Inktree Marketing
Publishing Poynters
The Lessons I’ve Learned from These Marketers
1. Be genuine. Most importantly, be approachable and available to your readers.
2. Be generous. Give something of value, such as an excerpt of your book.
3. Be passionate.
4. Determine your audience and keep them interested.
5. Be persistant.
6. When you do sell a book, over-deliver by giving them something they didn’t expect. Use your imagination with this technique.
7. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Find out what people need/want to know and write a book about it. That book just might help you pay for your more creative endeavors.
The Internet is the best thing to have happened to us. Ten years ago, we were stuck going on grueling city tours if we wanted to reach our readers. Today, we can reach them across the globe with a few keystrokes. It’s just a matter of learning how.
Get out there and educate yourselves. And let me know how it goes. 
Benjamin Solah on 04 Feb 2006 at 3:46 am #
I really think I’m going to have to look into some marketing books, and those links above.
melly on 04 Feb 2006 at 7:11 am #
I don’t get offended by this statement. This statement has been true for all art forms. It’s true for painters, photographers, musicians etc.
The problem is the successes. Like in everything else, the writing business produced a few successes. The best sellers writers are very successful and loaded.
Then there is the ‘middle management’ writers, the ones who write for magazines, the reporters who do it as a day job but don’t get into stardom status. And finally the rest of the writers.
No different than most industries in general and the arts in particular.
Just like with bloggers. You have something like, oh I don’t know, a billion blogs, and only a few dozens can claim to make a very good living off it.
Okay, rambling, moving on.
(Oh, that said, sure one should learn how to be a better marketer, if for anything else it can help in landing a job
Gone Away on 04 Feb 2006 at 8:42 am #
You, Deborah, are a godsend. I love your practical, no-nonsense advice and suggestions and I intend to go through all those links and educate myself. Thank you for bringing this dreamer back to earth and pointing him in the right direction.
deborah.woehr on 04 Feb 2006 at 9:38 am #
Ben: Check out those links first and study how these people write.
Melly: Yep, the arts industry isn’t any different than the rest in that there is a “food chain.” Only a few will receive fame and glory, you’re right.
Learning how to market yourself and your work won’t give you super-star success (unless you are the first to discover something that will spawn a major fad). But in the long run, it will help you build your career and pay your bills.
Clive: Thanks, and you’re welcome.
Keep us posted on your experiences.