| Too many authors spend all their time on writing, | | | | judge a book by its cover, so if you're not spending |
| then scrimp on book design and book marketing. | | | | some money on getting an outstanding cover, you're |
| They hope that their publisher will handle all the | | | | losing sales. Then, people will open the book and read |
| details of book design and book marketing, so that | | | | the intro or first few pages. Is it well-written? Easy |
| they can just sit back and rake in the millions year | | | | to read? Is the interior book design clean, consistent, |
| after year.Then, if these same authors decide to | | | | and well-implemented. I've seen many POD books in |
| self-publish, they'll quickly get lost in the morass of | | | | which the margins were too small, the fonts poorly |
| print on demand publishers and the time and money | | | | chosen, and the images fuzzy. Who's going to buy a |
| sink hole of self-publishing. In fact, most authors | | | | book like that?There are many great book cover |
| would rather die than think about book marketing, or | | | | designers. Then for editing, contact Charity at for |
| spend money on book design.Facing your book | | | | your editing needs. Don't scrimp on the editing |
| marketing competitionIn 2005, around 172,000 books | | | | because you WILL make mistakes (trust me on this |
| were published with an ISBN number, according to | | | | - there are probably a few in this article).3. Choose a |
| Bowker, which compiles publishing statistics. An ISBN | | | | good quality publisher.Lulu Press is great if you just |
| number will get you into Books in Print, and allows | | | | want to print a few books for your friends, or |
| your book to be distributed to bookstores and online | | | | create a low-cost galley to send to editors, agents, |
| sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. According | | | | or distributors. You'll often be asked to send a |
| to some sources, nearly one quarter of these books | | | | "galley" of your book, which is simply a |
| were printed by Print on Demand (POD) | | | | printed copy of your book with a blank cover. Lulu |
| companies.I'd estimate that number to be much | | | | Press is great for creating galleys at minimal cost.As |
| higher, as many small publishers are having their | | | | we'll show you in our upcoming comprehensive guide |
| books printed by Lightning Source, which also | | | | to self-publishing, which POD company you choose |
| provides printing for many of the larger POD | | | | depends on your intentions and desires. If you want |
| companies.Additionally, Lulu Press, who publishes over | | | | to have your book professionally edited and the |
| 1500 books per week, says that only about 5% of | | | | cover professionally designed by your publisher |
| their books get an ISBN number. That's another | | | | (instead of outsourcing to some unknown person), |
| 80,000 or so books circulating in the market each | | | | then companies like Cold Tree Press ( might be a |
| year, although most of Lulu's books are only sold | | | | good choice. Other companies offer a varied level of |
| through Lulu Press on their web site.The definition of | | | | marketing packages. Personally, I'd rather stay away |
| "Best Seller" has changedIt only takes | | | | from having these publishers market my book, and |
| 300 book sales to get on Lulu's all-time top 100 | | | | instead go to a good book marketing expert or |
| bestsellers list. 300 books! For some people, that can | | | | media specialist.But, there are a few small publishers |
| be attained simply by selling books to their extended | | | | (like Cold Tree Press or Arbor Books) who have |
| family. While AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Xlibris, and other | | | | excellent book marketing packages, ranging from |
| big players in the POD market might print more | | | | several hundred to several thousand dollars (you get |
| books with ISBN numbers, their sales records aren't | | | | what you pay for!).4. Take a "no holds |
| much better.Some sources estimate that the | | | | barred" approach to book marketing.If your |
| average book sells no more than 150 copies, and | | | | book is your life, or is a major part of your business |
| other sources put that number at below fifty copies. | | | | marketing plan, then spend some money on publicity |
| In many cases, authors end up losing money on their | | | | and book marketing. Too many people, especially |
| books, which is why Lulu Press is so popular. At Lulu, | | | | business people, write a book, put a page up on their |
| you can upload your book interior and cover (you do | | | | web site (and on Amazon), and hope that they'll get |
| all the design work), and have a book on your | | | | some sales. Your book is like a 250 page business |
| doorstep within days - all for the "cost of | | | | card, and it should be used accordingly.If your book is |
| printing" (which is highly inflated, by the | | | | your life story or a novel, you still need to spend |
| way).The services and prices of POD companies vary | | | | some money on marketing, although your approach |
| widely, which is why we're in the final stages of | | | | will be different. Definitely check out a media relations |
| creating a comprehensive guide on self-publishing. It | | | | specialist (Marika Flatt at or Book Marketing Specialist |
| can be a confusing morass of information and data, | | | | (Penny Sansevieri at Use the Internet to market |
| with many unsubstantiated claims. The truth shall be | | | | your book.The old ways of marketing books, such as |
| revealed.Will you be one of the winners, or part of | | | | book tours, are dead and gone. Sure, you can still do |
| the majority?Will your book be dead before it hits | | | | them, but if you really want to sell books, you'll have |
| the streets? If you have any intention of selling more | | | | to go online - and not quietly.Use techniques such as |
| than 50 books, then you'll have to invest time - and | | | | blogs (blogging), Podcasting, and Videocasting |
| money - into the production and marketing of your | | | | (something like online infomercials). Be sure to check |
| book. Here are the basic steps you'll have to | | | | out the advanced book marketing teleseminar series |
| consider:1. Write a great book that's got an | | | | at You should also learn how to do a Virtual Book |
| audience.One of the biggest mistakes people make is | | | | tour (a class Penny Sansevieri will be teaching through |
| to assume that people will read their book just | | | | Write and Publish Your Book).So, write a great book, |
| because it's "good." People will read a | | | | find a good book cover designer and book editor, |
| book if it is either applicable to their lives (non-fiction), | | | | work with a quality publisher, market the heck out of |
| or if it really is a damned good book (fiction). Even | | | | your book, and use the Internet to market your |
| then, you'll have to market your book. "How to | | | | book with podcasts, blogging (an author blog), |
| sell a book" or "How to market a | | | | videocasts, and virtual book tours.Good luck. Good |
| book" are two of the top questions we get, | | | | writing. Good selling.If you're a writer or solo |
| and search engine analysis shows that these are | | | | entrepreneur, then you need to visit the Publishing |
| frequent search terms. If you haven't written your | | | | and Self-Publishing website. Tips & resources for |
| book with an audience in mind, then you're down to | | | | writers; advice on publishing or self-publishing, and |
| three legs on your four-legged marketing stool.2. | | | | relatively unbiased media relations assistance. Check |
| Spend some money on book cover design and book | | | | out our Avanced Marketing teleseminars on |
| editing.The second leg of book marketing is the | | | | Podcasting, Self-Publishing, Publishing and Marketing |
| interior and exterior design of the book. People do | | | | for writers and solo entrepreneurs. |