Five New Year's Resolutions for Book Marketers

While you are working on your New Year’s Resolutions why not consider some that can help you sell more books? Here are a few that you might consider.

1. I will regularly plan my work before taking action, and then assess the results of my efforts. Book marketing can be as simple as PIE if you Prepare before Implementing your plan. Then Evaluate your progress and make necessary changes. If you missed my December webinar about planning, the recording of How to Create a Functional Marketing Plan for 2013 available here.
2. I will keep up with changes in my field. The publishing industry is changing rapidly. The topic on which you wrote your book is changing as well. People in the media will ask your opinion on these changes, as will people in the audiences of your personal presentations. Be prepared with accurate answers. See my article “Never Stop Learning” among many other free articles.
3. I will seek new places in which to sell my book. Most authors try to sell their books through bookstores – bricks and/or clicks. You can increase your revenue and profits significantly with sales to non-bookstore buyers. These can be retailers (gift shops, supermarkets, discount stores and specialty stores) or non-retail buyers in corporations, associations and schools.
4. I will consistently market my book. You cannot rely on your publisher or anyone else to market your book for you. You have more knowledge, passion and motivation than anyone else about your book, so do something every day to promote it. Remember Brian Tracy’s quotation: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”
5. I will not give up. Success in this business is a long-term endeavor, reminiscent of the Chinese bamboo tree. If you plant a seed and then nurture and water it for a year it will grow two inches. In year two, if you care for, nurture and water it, the tree will grow two inches. In year three, if you care for, nurture and water it the tree will grow two inches. In year four, if you care for, nurture and water it the tree will grow two inches. Most people give up at this point, thinking it’s no use and takes too much time and effort for such little results. But in year five, if you care for, nurture and water it the tree will grow 80 feet. Think about this when doing your book marketing, and never give up.

I wish you success in your book-marketing efforts this year and beyond.