ShareHave You Given Up On Book Promotion?
I speak with authors on a daily basis, usually about the promotion of their book, and all too often they are sitting somewhere on the scale between frustration and apathy.
If this is you, and you are ready to throw in the towel, then I’m writing this for you.
First, take an honest look at the promotion you did to see if you can identify why it wasn’t effective. Was there simply not enough (most common reason)? Did your message to the media fall flat? Or…maybe there just wasn’t any promotion at all.
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If any of the above applies, don’t think you’ve failed as an author. You may not be a whiz at marketing and publicity, and unless your book is specifically about marketing and promotion, there’s really no reason for you to try to become an expert in that field. After all, you’re already an expert in your own field, or you wouldn’t have written your book!
Second, please understand that just because your book promotion wasn’t successful in the past, doesn’t mean that it can’t be now and in the future. In fact, even if your book was published a while ago, as long as your topic is “evergreen” – meaning it is not tied to some hot news item or trend – the promotion of your book can begin or resume at any time.
The real key to the successful promotion of your book is in knowing how to approach the right media, and having an angle that will grab their attention. So many authors, and companies too, still think sending out a boilerplate press release to a big list of editors is going to magically spark a wildfire of intense interest and buzz – but it just isn’t so.
Here at EMSI Public Relations our area of expertise is arranging radio and TV interviews, in addition to editorial coverage in newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. Even if you think that’s a “pipe dream” because of past promotional failures, I assure you, it may not be too late!
Let us help you get your message out… it’s what we do, and we can do it for you! My partner, Steve Friedman, and I, along with our staff of PR professionals, have been promoting authors for 20 years, and we can help you.
Plus, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn about our performance-based fee structure that guarantees media coverage to the clients we take on board. Feel free to explore the possibilities with Steve; he can be reached by email at steve@emsincorporated.com, or call him directly at 727-443-7115, ext. 202.
You’ve already invested a lot of valuable time and energy writing your book and getting it published; don’t give up yet. Instead, give us a call…
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I’ve been all over your website and can find nothing as to your fee structure. How much do you charge and is it really based on results? I paid over $500 last year for a national blanket media marketing campaign and it failed to sell even one copy! Needless to say, I cannot keep throwing money away on campaigns that don’t work. However, I am more than willing to pay good money for campaigns that DO produce results! For example, my agent does not charge me a penny up front. He’s currently pitching my book to Hollywood studios with the hope of securing a major motion picture deal. When he secures the deal, he will be paid (a percentage of my advance). Therefore, I am not out any money. How do you operate? If you operate like this, then I can work with you. But I cannot pay for anything upfront. I pay for results only. I’be been scammed before and I cannot allow that to happen again. I hope you understand. Thanks in advance.
Hi Andrew – In answer to your question about how we charge, we do get paid upfront but get paid for guaranteed media placements. I understand your frustration about being scammed before and being careful about making sure it doesn’t happen again. Unfortunately, some of my best clients are those who have had that experience and who are greatly relieved when they realize how different we are. T
We do work with fiction authors when they have an expertise tied in to the topic of their book. Check out the author Darlene Quinn and her book Webs of Power. She’s a perfect example of a fiction author whose book we promoted and have gotten a lot of media coverage for. In fact, we’re getting to work on her second novel.
It seems like you’re doing a good job on your own of getting recognition for your book. Considering there are 400,000 new books published each year, the attention you’ve gotten so far are actually outstanding, i.e. being picked up by a leading entertainment attorney who’s pitching your book to Hollywood, the businessman in Hollywood who wants to turn the novel into an audio book, good reviews, etc. etc.
If I can ever be of help, let me know. I’d be happy to send you information on our services and fees.
I have self published two books, and even though my sales have been fair (about 1000 copies of the first book and 200 of the sequel), the bookstore that has been a major seller for me is going out of business. My book is sold through Amazon.com and online through Barnes & Nobles, BooksAMillion, but not on anyone elses bookshelves. I would like information on the cost of TWO books being pitched and/or maybe just doing one first and the second will fall into place? My books are Haunted Broughton, Tales From The Graveyard Shift and Haunted Broughton, More Tales From The Graveyard Shift. They are true stories of paranormal events that happened to me and coworkers and patients while working in a 125 year old state psychiatric facility for the 16 1/2 years I worked there, mostly on the “graveyard shift”. Do you think there is an audience for this in areas where people don’t know anything about this hospital? Plus, this hospital is still in business, so I have to be sure and tell people they can’t go and do their own investigations! I thank you in advance for your response.
Please send me relevant information regarding you price.
Hello Margaret,
I am so sorry that I did not see this post until this morning. If you still need help with promoting your book and would like your questions answered, please e-mail me directly at pr@marshafriedman.com and put in the Subject “Need Help” so that I will notice it right away.
Marsha
Hi Marta,
I didn’t see your message either. Please forgive my tardiness. Do you still need the information? Please let me know.
Have a great day!
Marsha
Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m not good at marketing my books myself! Unfortunately, I also don’t have a very big budget at this time.
Do you have anything that works, that does not cost an arm and a leg?
I’ve worked so hard on the 4 books I have had published so far, and I would like to learn the right way to do things before I find a publisher for my next book.