| Wouldn't you rather write a book that sells well than | | | | readers. |
| be stuck with unsold inventory? When you plan ahead | | | | Finally, testimonials are the number one way to turn |
| with the 10 tips below, you will sell thousands rather | | | | your potential buyer into a |
| than hundreds of your unique and important information | | | | "take-out-their-credit-card-buyer." For information on |
| or inspirational products. | | | | how to get testimonials ask a book coach. |
| 1. Write non-fiction first. These books are 90% of total | | | | 7. Create your written marketing plan before you finish |
| book sales. After non-fiction success, you can use | | | | chapter one. This plan covers your first year's launch |
| your profits to partially finance a fiction project. | | | | period and lifetime plan. You'll want to market at least |
| 2. Write short books to start. Short books in any | | | | two years. Inexperienced authors wait until publication |
| format, like eBooks, booklets, guides or special reports | | | | and lose a great deal of sales. |
| are faster, easier, and cheaper to write than full-length | | | | Your plan could include how many books you want to |
| books of 200-300 pages. They can be as short as | | | | sell, your 30 second tell and sell, book reviews, news |
| five pages (special reports), to eBooks that can be | | | | releases, the Online articles to market your book, the |
| 5-100 pages (even longer). | | | | book signings, talks, electronic newsletters, and a book |
| 3. Market to a book-buying audience. Women buy far | | | | Web site. Without a written plan, an author creates |
| more books than men, about 75%. If your message | | | | vague results. |
| benefits women, you'll do well in sales. If your book | | | | 8. Put as much time into marketing as you did the |
| solves a problem it will sell more. It's best to see the | | | | writing of your book. Your goal is to have people read |
| need and fill it rather than have an idea-then look for | | | | and learn from your unique message. Why plant a |
| an audience. | | | | garden if you don't harvest it? John Kremer, book |
| 4. Choose your cover and title with care. Image is | | | | marketing guru, and author of 1001 Ways to Market |
| almost everything. You have four seconds to impress | | | | Your Book, says to do five things each day. Five calls, |
| your potential buyer. Be clear, use metaphor and make | | | | five press releases, five online contacts or a |
| sure your title elicits a picture or an emotion. Keep your | | | | combination of tasks. The book coach says spend 6-9 |
| title short, preferably 5-7 words. What solutions and | | | | hours a week on online promotion. |
| results does your book promise? See more free | | | | 9. Include online marketing to sell more books. While |
| articles including "Titles Sell Books" on | | | | you can sell your books on other sites, such as |
| 5. Expand your book into a series. Think of the huge | | | | Amazon.com, you will eventually want your own. You |
| success of the Chicken Soup Series. They have one | | | | will make much less with Amazon and you have to |
| cover for all the titles. The latest count is 68 million. | | | | pay for shipping too. An author without a Web site is |
| Think of spin-off products that relate to your book. | | | | like a person without a name. As an entrepreneur, your |
| Some people prefer to learn by listening to a cassette. | | | | site needs to attract visitors and sell your products and |
| You may also want to serialize your eBook, sending | | | | service. Here you include testimonials, benefit driven |
| one part or chapter a week through an autoresponder. | | | | headlines, and your sales letter to get your visitor to |
| These formats actually help you sell more books. | | | | become a customer. |
| Other spin-offs include coaching, consulting, speaking, | | | | 10. Start promoting your book several ways. If press |
| seminars, columns, or videos. | | | | releases, book signings, and back of the room sales |
| 6. Impress your potential buyer within eight seconds | | | | dim, include online promotion such as writing and |
| with your back cover copy. The biggest mistake | | | | submitting how-to articles to top ezines and web sites. |
| authors make is putting their title on the back cover. | | | | When you use his virtual marketing machine-the |
| Since it's already on the front cover, you need to | | | | Internet- you will keep your book dream alive--getting it |
| instead, put your sparkling headline at the top. For | | | | into the hands of thousands of readers rather than a |
| example, "Imagine 1000's Buying Your Book Next | | | | few. |
| Month!" It must hook your readers, stir up their | | | | Start marketing your book right now, even if you don't |
| emotions, and hit their desire. | | | | have a Web site. Research by reading articles, |
| In 75 words or less, include the benefits your book | | | | contacting professional book and web coaches, or |
| offers. How to get more money, heart-centered | | | | take a teleclass to find out how to learn non-techie |
| relationships, more fame, and more health. Less stress | | | | ways to start your lifetime book promotion journey. |
| and time spend in a project. Include from 3-5 bullets of | | | | Master book marketing like you would eat an |
| benefits, what specifics your book promises its | | | | elephant--one bite at a time! Watch your sales grow! |