Monday Morning Marketing Tip - April 25, 2011

Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip

is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations

spread their message like wildfire.

Congratulations to WildFire Marketing client, Wanda Brunstetter, who just made the New York Times and USA Today fiction bestseller lists with her new novel, The Journey.

This week's focus:

Some people think that giving away free samples of their product is unwise. "We're giving away the farm!" they cry. "No one will feel the need to buy my book or product if I give away free content." Au contraire. Let me give you an example that may change your mind.

A few months ago, I helped Lysa TerKeurst and her publisher plan the marketing launch of her new book, Made to Crave. We decided to take a large chunk of content from Lysa's book and create a free resource called the "21-Day Challenge." Lysa made this resource available on her website and offered it to organizations. Plus, her publisher turned it into a free e-book that was available on Amazon for a limited time.

Many people would have looked at our sampling strategy and said, "You're crazy! Don't give away so much free material. The samples will cannibalize sales of the book." Yet, listen to the actual results. Made to Crave hit the New York Times bestseller list for 13 weeks in a row and sold over 100,000 copies in the first 6 weeks. The power of free didn't hurt, rather it helped. Giving away free content didn't diminish the sales potential. Instead, the opposite happened. Offering readers free content got them excited and made them want the whole book. Plus, they were informed enough to spread word-of-mouth.

Therefore, don't let the "fear of free" scare you away from creating free resources and samples for your customers. Heck, even the Bible promotes the concept of sampling. Psalm 34:8 says "Taste and see that the Lord is good." If it's good enough for God, why not give sampling a try in your marketing strategy?

Announcement:

Free Teleconference Call with Rob Eagar

Thursday, April 28th, 8:00pm Eastern

Almost 125 people have already signed up!

Behind-the-Scenes of an Unlikely Bestseller:

An Interview with New York Times Bestselling Author, Lysa TerKeurst

WildFire Marketing client, Lysa TerKeurst, recently experienced remarkable success with her latest book, Made to Crave, which stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 12 weeks in a row! Even more surprising, Lysa baffled the publishing industry by achieving this success without using the traditional formula of landing major TV exposure, re-buying books in bulk, or going on a whirlwind promotional tour. Learn the secrets behind her success as Rob Eagar interviews Lysa and explains the non-traditional strategies that they developed for her book campaign. During this one-hour, tell-all, teleconference call, you'll learn how to:

• Think outside the typical promotional box to create bigger buzz for your book.
• Build an author platform that grows at a consistent rate.
• Identify what makes audiences respond to an author's message.
• Discover new strategies that help sell more books, reach more people, and change more lives.

The teleconference call is FREE, but you must register beforehand in order to participate. The interview will also be recorded and made available afterwards to all listeners who register. Don't wait, register today by sending an email to: Rob@StartaWildFire.com

NOTE: I'll be sending details and dial-in instructions by email to everyone later this week. Watch your inbox for my message. Also, I'll have some special announcements and discounts during this teleconference call. So, don't miss it! If you can't join us live, you can listen to the recording.

Special Product Announcement:

Rob Eagar's 5-hour teaching series, Speak and Sell Books in Any Market, is now available as a mp3 file download and 5-CD audio set. Even better, the previous price of $125 has been reduced to an amazingly-low $75 for the mp3 format and only $99 for the CD's. Click here to purchase now, and you could be listening to Rob's top-level instruction within minutes on your computer, iPod, or smartphone.

To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,

click here.

© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.

WildFire Marketing helps Wanda Brunstetter launch new website and hit New York Times bestseller list!

WildFire Marketing is excited to announce that author client, Wanda Brunstetter, recently landed #23 on the New York Times trade fiction paperback bestseller list for the week of April 24, 2011. Rob Eagar was hired by Wanda and her publisher, Barbour Books, to create a new author brand and revamp her website. Click here to experience the incredible transformation and see the before-and-after picture below.

Wanda's new website invites you to "Lose Your Heart in the Amish Life" with beautiful Amish photography, fascinating facts, and interesting information about Wanda, her books, and the Amish culture. The website also features powerful book marketing tools, including audio, video, book descriptions, sample chapters, retailer links, book club discussion questions, free resources, word-of-mouth tools, reader forum, Amish recipes, and much more. (Be sure your speakers are turned "on" when you visit!)

Congrats to Wanda for making the New York Times bestseller list! WildFire Marketing is proud to be a part of her success. We hope you enjoy Wanda's new website as much as we enjoyed working with her. A big thanks to graphic designer, Ron Dylnicki, and website programmer, Lisa Boyd. For more information about the incredible makeovers that WildFire Marketing creates for authors, call 1-800-267-2045.

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - April 18, 2011

Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip

is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations

spread their message like wildfire.

This week's focus:
Folks, at some point we have to ask ourselves if quality is important to our marketing efforts. I know the answer is an obvious "yes." But, I'm surprised by how many authors, businesses, and non-profits put out promotional material that falls way short of anything people would consider "quality." In these cases, there seems to be a mindset that says, "I'd rather save money than do it with excellence" or "Hey, at least I did something - no one said it had to be perfect." That may true. But, no one said they have to buy your stuff if your marketing is lame, either.

Now, I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes. Well, actually I am...but in a helpful way that hopefully gets your attention. For example, here's what I mean by shoddy marketing:

• A video of an author rambling into a low budget webcam on their computer. Just watching it makes the viewer feel more uncomfortable than the writer who recorded it.
• A newsletter (email or print) that's devoid of value and merely promotes product throughout every section. These pieces give the same tone as a used-car salesman saying, "What can I do to get you to drive off the lot in one of my cars today?"
• A company Facebook page that merely displays products to buy, lists boring updates from employees, or spouts generic inspirational quotes than no one cares about.
• A free Blogger blog that serves as an organization's or person's primary website presence.
• A primary email address used for business from Yahoo, Gmail, Juno, or AOL.com. That tells people that you're an A.O.L - "amateur on line."

Think back to the days when you were dating your spouse. If you had not represented yourself with excellence, you probably wouldn't be married today. You wore your best clothes, went to the nicest restaurants, wooed the other person with heartfelt creativity, etc. You prevailed in romance by presenting yourself in the best light - as a person of quality who was considered a worthy catch.

Marketing is similar to the process of dating. If you don't promote your books, products, and services with quality, then you probably won't get many customers to fall in love with you. Relationships fail when one person takes the other for granted. Does your marketing take your audience for granted? Avoid that mistake by instilling a sense of quality into all of your promotional efforts. Otherwise, your business may find itself walking a lonely road.

Announcement:

Free Teleconference Call with Rob Eagar

Thursday, April 28th, 8:00pm Eastern

Almost 100 people have already signed up!

Behind-the-Scenes of an Unlikely Bestseller:

An Interview with New York Times Bestselling Author, Lysa TerKeurst

WildFire Marketing client, Lysa TerKeurst, recently experienced remarkable success with her latest book, Made to Crave, which stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 12 weeks in a row! Even more surprising, Lysa baffled the publishing industry by achieving this success without using the traditional formula of landing major TV exposure, re-buying books in bulk, or going on a whirlwind promotional tour. Learn the secrets behind her success as Rob Eagar interviews Lysa and explains the non-traditional strategies that they developed for her book campaign. During this one-hour, tell-all, teleconference call, you'll learn how to:

• Think outside the typical promotional box to create bigger buzz for your book.
• Build an author platform that grows at a consistent rate.
• Identify what makes audiences respond to an author's message.
• Discover new strategies that help sell more books, reach more people, and change more lives.

The teleconference call is FREE, but you must register beforehand in order to participate. The interview will also be recorded and made available afterwards to all listeners who register. Don't wait, register today by sending an email to: Rob@StartaWildFire.com

To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,

click here.

© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - April 11, 2011

Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip

is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations

spread their message like wildfire.

This week's focus:
Another "Marketing Minute Video Tip" for your thought-provoking enjoyment. I can't emphasize how easy it is to create these videos with today's technology. I recorded this video using my iPhone on a tripod, then added a title screen using Adobe Premiere Elements software, and then uploaded to YouTube. I encourage you to create the same kind of instructional or inspirational videos for your audience.

Announcement:

Free Teleconference Call with Rob Eagar

Thursday, April 28th, 8:00pm Eastern

Behind-the-Scenes of an Unlikely Bestseller:

An Interview with New York Times Bestselling Author, Lysa TerKeurst

WildFire Marketing client, Lysa TerKeurst, recently experienced remarkable success with her latest book, Made to Crave, which stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 12 weeks in a row! Even more surprising, Lysa baffled the publishing industry by achieving this success without using the traditional formula of landing major TV exposure, re-buying books in bulk, or going on a whirlwind promotional tour. Learn the secrets behind her success as Rob Eagar interviews Lysa and explains the non-traditional strategies that they developed for her book campaign. During this one-hour, tell-all, teleconference call, you'll learn how to:

• Think outside the typical promotional box to create bigger buzz for your book.
• Build an author platform that grows at a consistent rate.
• Identify what makes audiences respond to an author's message.
• Discover new strategies that help sell more books, reach more people, and change more lives.

The teleconference call is FREE, but you must register beforehand in order to participate. The interview will also be recorded and made available afterwards to all listeners who register. Don't wait, register today by sending an email to: Rob@StartaWildFire.com

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - April 4, 2011

Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip

is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations

spread their message like wildfire.

This week's focus:

One marketing technique that can be particularly useful to authors is to engage the power of book clubs and discussion groups. Millions of readers around the world congregate both in-person and online to discuss their favorite fiction and non-fiction titles. Promoting to these groups can quickly boost sales by increasing the number of volume orders placed.

Book clubs thrive on debating how an author tells a poignant story or shares powerful information. There is almost a sense of mysteriousness and awe that some readers hold towards their favorite writers. Therefore, as the author, why not offer to remove some of the mystery? Allow book clubs to meet you privately by scheduling short phone calls to answer some of their biggest questions. Just hearing your voice can be a major thrill for literary fans. In addition, you can use technology, such as Skype, Facebook chat, and video conferencing, to make virtual appearances with readers around the world. Imagine no longer having to endure miserable book-signing events where nobody shows up. By combining technology with book clubs, you now get to be the life of the party!

Speaking of parties...tomorrow is my birthday.

Yes, Happy Birthday to me! For those keeping score, I'll be 43.

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To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tip sent directly to your email inbox,

click here.

© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.