Monday Morning Marketing Tip - Top Tips of 2011

This week's focus:

I hope you had a Merry Christmas! This week, we're looking back over 2011 and revisiting some of the more popular Monday Morning Marketing Tips from this year based on subscriber feedback. In case you missed them or would like a refresher, here's a list to those marketing tips:

Use the Snowball Approach to Build Your Platform

Are You Prepared for a Hail Mary Marketing Moment

Passive versus Proactive Marketing

Monitor Your Amazon Reviews

Top 10 Misconceptions Authors Believe about Marketing

I look forward to kicking off the New Year next week as we'll discuss:

"Your Top 12 Marketing Moves for 2012."

Coming Next Month: New Teleconference Series for Authors

Join me in January for the start of new instructional teleconference series called, "Advanced Book Marketing for Authors." Learn the essential skills that every fiction and non-fiction author needs to market books more effectively. Plus, I'll personally answer your questions during these sessions. The first session will be on Wednesday, January 18th and I'll explain "How to Answer the Most Important Question in Book Marketing." All teleconference sessions will be recorded and sent as a download file afterwards. So, you can listen live or listen later on your computer, iPod, or smartphone.

Register early and save 20%. Click here for details and signup.

Holiday Special for my Newsletter Subscribers:

To say thanks for subscribing to my Monday Morning Marketing Tips, I'm offering a $5.00 discount (20% off) on any of my downloadable teaching products between now and December 31st. Just use the secret code "wildfire" when you checkout at my website. Get a great deal on these resources for authors:

Bestseller Website Tutorial - Fiction and Non-Fiction versions

Marketing Plan Template for Authors - Fiction and Non-Fiction

How to Sell Books in Any Market - 5 hours of audio teaching

Guest Blogger at Writer's Digest: What Makes Word-of-Mouth Work - Part 2

I'm guest blogging today over at Writers Digest. Check out my article:

"What Makes Word-of-Mouth Work: Part 2"

Click here - http://goo.gl/x3C1V

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - "Put on Your Marketing Glasses"

Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.

This week's focus:

Last week, we had unseasonably warm weather in Atlanta for December (70 degrees!). So, I took advantage and went mountain biking one afternoon after work before the sun went down. However, as dusk set in, the light began to fade and the trail became harder to see. Anticipating this issue, I pulled out a pair of orange-tinted glasses that I had brought with me. As I looked through these glasses, I was struck by the change that happened. Within seconds, I went from straining to see the trail to seeing everything around me with bright, clear vision. It felt like someone suddenly turned on the lights, and my ability to continue biking became much easier. Even though the sunlight had not changed, my perspective was enhanced by wearing the colored glasses.

This situation represents a marketing perspective that affects all authors. No, I'm not going to make the sappy suggestion that wearing rose-colored glasses is the solution to life's problems. But, my mountain biking experience represents an important reminder for authors who are trying to promote their books. When you look at your readers through "value-colored" glasses, your marketing strategy will be much easier to see. In other words, if you concentrate on providing value and helping to entertain or inform your readers, your path will be easier to follow and you'll reach your destination faster.

For example, your newsletters will yield better results when write articles that tangibly help your subscribers. Your website and social media activities will be more productive when you give away free advice, resources, and samples. Your book sales will grow when you view readers as individuals who need answers and inspiration, rather people who should buy something from you.

As you analyze your marketing efforts, look at the process through the lens of helping people and providing value. The view may not always be rosy, but your next step as a book marketer will be much easier to see.

Coming Next Month: New Teleconference Series for Authors

Join me in January for the start of new instructional teleconference series called, "Advanced Book Marketing for Authors." Learn the essential skills that every fiction and non-fiction author needs to market books more effectively. Plus, I'll personally answer your questions during these sessions. The first session will be on Wednesday, January 18th and I'll explain "How to Answer the Most Important Question in Book Marketing." All teleconference sessions will be recorded and sent as a download file afterwards. So, you can listen live or listen later on your computer, iPod, or smartphone.

Register early and save 20%. Click here for details and signup.

Special Christmas Discount for My Blog Readers:

To say "thank you" to my blog readers this year, I'm offering a $5.00 discount (that's 25% off) on any of my new downloadable teaching products between now and December 31st. Just use the secret code "wildfire" when you checkout at my website. Get a great deal on these new resources for authors:

Bestseller Website Tutorial - Fiction and Non-Fiction versions

Marketing Plan Template for Authors - Fiction and Non-Fiction

How to Sell Books in Any Market - 5 hours of audio teaching

Remember, use "wildfire" in the discount code box when you checkout to get the discount. Applies to downloadable products only (PDF, Word, and mp3 files).

Merry Christmas and thanks for following my blog!

To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips directly in your email inbox,
click here

© Rob Eagar 2011.
All rights reserved.

Guest Blog Post at Writer's Digest: "What Makes Word-of-Mouth Work?"

I'm guest blogging today over at Writers Digest. Check out my article:

"What Makes Word-of-Mouth Work?"

Click here - http://goo.gl/JB6Nl

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - December 12, 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:
My wife, Ashley the Wonderful, is a voracious reader. She can easily go through a book a week, and she enjoys referring her favorite books to friends. Last week, she made a statement that stopped me in my tracks - and it should stop any author in their tracks as well. She said:

"Readers don't give grace when they give money for a book."

Her remark touches on a common problem that I've noticed among a lot of authors, especially first-timers and self-published types. Too many authors expect readers to give them grace when their book is poorly written, badly edited, or cheap-looking. They expect readers to graciously "look past" those problems and credit them with a good book anyway. Last week, an author confessed to me, "I've expected readers to excuse the 'homemade' nature of my work. I know it's shoddy, but why can't people overlook those issues?"

Friends, that's not how the publishing business works. If you want people to pay money for your book, don't expect them to give grace if your book is substandard. People expect professionalism, because they're paying for it. When someone gives you money, a financial transaction takes place, which makes you a professional. Amateurs work for free. Pros make money.

If you want people to give you grace, then offer your book for free. Don't expect people to give you their hard-earned cash if you don't want to act like a professional. The reading public expects books that cost money to come from a professional author. Think about it. You put the same expectations on the professionals in your life that you pay, such as doctors, dentists, hairdressers, and fitness instructors. You don't give them grace if they do a substandard job. Likewise, it's no different for authors.

I know that some of you reading this are stay-at-home moms, non-profit workers, counsellors, and part-time teachers. Those are all admirable callings. But, if you expect to receive payment for your books, you immediately become a business-person. Therefore, your book must be written, produced, and sold at a professional level. Otherwise, you're just a hobbyist who shouldn't expect any income.

If you want people to buy your books, don't expect them to give you grace for second-rate writing, editing, or layout. People want their money's worth. So, give readers what they deserve...a well-written book that provides tangible value in return.

If you still want grace for substandard performance, talk to God - amazing grace is his specialty.

Special Christmas Discount for My Blog Readers:

To say "thank you" to my blog readers this year, I'm offering a $5.00 discount (that's 25% off) on any of my new downloadable teaching products between now and December 25th. Just use the secret code "wildfire" when you checkout at my website. Get a great deal on these new resources for authors:

Bestseller Website Tutorial - Fiction and Non-Fiction versions

Marketing Plan Template for Authors - Fiction and Non-Fiction

How to Sell Books in Any Market - 5 hours of audio teaching

Remember, use "wildfire" in the discount code box when you checkout to get the discount. Applies to downloadable products only (PDF, Word, and mp3 files).

Merry Christmas and thanks for following my blog!

To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips directly in your email inbox,
click here

© Rob Eagar 2011.
All rights reserved.

Guest Blog at Writers Digest - Set Realistic Expectations for Your Author Platform

I'm guest blogging today over at Writers Digest. Check out my article:

"Are We There Yet? Set Realistic Expectations for Your Author Platform"

Click here - http://goo.gl/RFvPj

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - December 5, 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:
In today's publishing climate, nothing influences a publisher's interest more than the strength of an author's platform. If publishers don't think you can help sell books, then they will pass on your proposal and choose someone else. This mentality applies to every author, including first-timers struggling to get a contract all the way to former bestsellers seeking to land a new deal.

The problem is that most authors spend over 80% of their time writing a manuscript but less than 20% preparing for how they'll market that book. Yet, it's the marketing part that usually determines whether or not a book ever gets published. Publishers gravitate to books that they believe will sell in the marketplace. How do you convince them that your book is worth the financial risk? Show them a solid marketing plan.


Marketing a book requires hard work, but the process itself is fairly straightforward. You can boil it down to three simple questions:


1. What the value of my book?
2. Who needs this value the most?
3. Where do readers who need my book's value congregate in large groups?


When you clarify answers to these questions, your marketing path will get clearer. However, your answers won't do you any good if don't put them into a plan of action. You can't market a book in a lackadaisical fashion and expect good results. It's one thing to know what to do, but another thing to execute effectively.


That's why there are numerous benefits to creating a written marketing plan. By taking the time to spell out what you're going to do, how you're going to do it, and when you're going to do it, you show publishers that you can be an promotional ally, rather than a financial risk. When publishers view you as an asset, then more likely they'll offer you a contract and open the doors to their promotional resources.



How do you write a powerful book marketing plan?
If you've never done it before, don't waste time trying to figure it out on your own. Get a copy of my new "Marketing Plan Templates for Fiction and Non-Fiction Authors." These concise, easy-to-use templates are only $19.99, and they'll guide you through each step of writing a professional-quality book marketing plan. When you finish, you'll have a powerful promotional tool that's sure to impress literary agents, editors, and publishers.

After all the time you invest in writing a manuscript, don't forget to invest in writing a marketing plan that insures your success.

Click here for more information about my expert guides for fiction and non-fiction authors.

New Educational Opportunities for Authors:

Mp3 Audio - How to Sell Books in Any Market: Click here

Tutorials - Build a Website Worthy of a Bestseller: Click here

Events - Writers Digest Author Conference in NYC - Jan. 20-22: Click here

To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips directly in your email inbox,
click here

© Rob Eagar 2011.
All rights reserved.