Monday Morning Marketing Tip - October 17, 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:
Social media is luring a lot of people to believe that marketing shouldn't cost them anything. "Free" is becoming the new promotional budget. The danger with this mindset is that it can lead to a position of complacency. Most people need to feel invested in an important activity in order to see it through to completion.

For example, one of my friends has a Ph.D in counseling and runs his own private practice. He's spent hundreds of hours helping people work through their most difficult life issues. Yet, he recently told me that his experience has shown that people who come to him for counseling on someone else's dime rarely make progress. That's right, people who receive free counseling rarely heed the advice of the counselor and experience positive change. That's because they have no money invested in the process to keep them engaged and accountable. In contrast, counselees who pay his full fee on their own are much more likely to participate in the counseling process and experience positive results, because they are personally invested.

This same dynamic applies to marketing. There's a tendency to let promotional efforts slip when you don't have any financial "skin in the game." If you're tired, distracted, or lazy, then it's easy to think, "I'm too busy to blog, Twitter, or FaceBook today. Besides, they're free, so it doesn't cost me anything." Whereas, if you've spent time creating a database of targeted leaders and hired a graphic artist to design a nice-looking newsletter, you're more likely to feel invested and follow-through on that activity.

Try this litmus test. If Facebook and Twitter started charging $100 a month, would you still use them? In addition, are you getting enough return on investment via social media marketing to justify the amount of time you expend? If yes, go forth and prosper. If not, then it's time to make a change and focus your marketing on other tactics, even if they cost money. The goal isn't activity, the goal is success.

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© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - October 10, 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 of the keys to selling books like wildfire is to get other people to act as a salesperson for you. Instead of marketing all by yourself, imagine hundreds of people singing your praises to the public. A great way to make this happen is by utilizing the power of success stories.

For example, Dave Ramsey, radio host and New York Times bestselling author of The Total Money Makeover, uses the power of success stories better than any author I know. Every Friday, Dave invites listeners to call his radio show, declare how much personal debt they use to carry, explain how Dave helped them get out of debt, and then scream with glee, "I'm debt free!" Dave congratulates them, plays a funny inspirational soundtrack, and you can't help but feel happy.

However, these joyful moments aren't just for the benefit of the caller. These emotional success stories also create a powerful marketing dynamic for Dave's books. Listeners are moved by hearing Dave's readers revel in their newfound financial freedom. If you're someone who happens to be in debt, these stories create a natural attraction to check out The Total Money Makeover.

You may not have a nationwide radio program like Dave Ramsey. Regardless, any author (fiction and non-fiction) can use the power of success stories as effective marketing tools. As you gather positive feedback from readers, share them regularly through your newsletter, website, blog, and social media pages. You could even create a regular focus on them like Dave does. You may not have people shouting, "I'm debt free!" Instead, your success stories can help people see your books and think, "I want to read!"

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 - October 3, 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 loved reading the best-selling novel, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society." The book's story is told through a compilation of letters between Londoners and residents of a British island once under German occupation during World War II. Random House, the book's publisher, setup a clever tool on the book's website called "Send a Letter." It's essentially an e-card service that enables fans of the book to embrace the romantic way of correspondence and spread interest about the book using vintage looking electronic stationary. I've always been a fan of e-cards and don't see enough authors taking advantage of this online marketing tool.

The "Potato Pie" website also offers other engaging word-of-mouth features, such as a detailed Google map of the real-life Guernsey island, recipes, a book club discussion guide, a video interview with the author, and a sweepstakes contest. Imagine how your author platform could grow if you place these types of tools in the hands of your readers.

New Workshop Opportunity:

Advanced Media Training for Authors

Saturday, November 5, 2011 - Atlanta, GA

Don't wait. Space is limited and registration closes Oct. 15th.

Click here for details.

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 - September 26, 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:
Have you ever attended a music concert and seen T-shirts on sale for over $25? How can musicians get away with these ridiculously inflated prices? Emotion can trump logic when it comes to pricing. In other words, the emotional experience of a great performance makes people feel less concerned about price. Fans enjoyed the concert so much that they'll gladly pay an inflated charge to take home a souvenir to remember their good feelings. The greater the emotion, the less price is an issue.

As an author, you can enjoy this same dynamic. When readers hear you speak in public or meet you at a booksigning, they get to feel an emotional connection to you as an author. And, if they're fans of your material, that connection can run incredibly deep. For instance, look at the intense followings of bestsellers, such as J.K. Rowling, Malcolm Gladwell, or Stephenie Meyer.

Furthermore, getting a signed copy of your book can feel like a personal treasure to a fan. Therefore, price isn't top priority when most people visit your book table. Due to this fact, charge the full retail amount for individual copies of your book - especially if you sign them in-person.

New Workshop Opportunity:

Advanced Media Training for Authors

Saturday, November 5, 2011 - Atlanta, GA

Don't wait. Space is limited and registration closes Oct. 15th.

Click here for details.

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

click here.

© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.

New Workshop - Advanced Media Training for Authors

One of the fastest ways to get exposure for your new book is through radio and TV interviews. Unfortunately, most publishers no longer setup media tours for their authors. Worse, typical PR firms charge $2,500 - $5,000 per month for their services - with no guarantee of success.  Why risk paying these outrageous prices when you can learn to setup media interviews on your own for free?

More importantly, landing media interviews doesn't mean you'll sell any books. You can't just show up and tell your story. Audiences don't care. Instead, you've got to learn how to drive listeners to take an interest in your book, or you'll windup wasting precious opportunities.

Rob Eagar, marketing coach to over 400 authors and author of the upcoming book, "Sell Books Like Wildfire," has taught dozens of his clients how to land media interviews and use that exposure to generate book sales. This one-day workshop will provide advanced-level, personalized instruction that will help you:

• Write a press release that captivates media producers.
• Prepare for a radio or TV interview with confidence.
• Fearlessly interact with any kind of host.
• Lead your listening audience towards buying your books.
• Utilize these essential skills for the rest of your author career.

This will not be a boring, lecture style workshop. Rob will actively work with each attendee to write a professional press release, generate interesting questions and answers, control the interview discussion, and implement a book promotion strategy. You will complete important tasks and be ready for action by the time you leave. For those who are brave enough, Rob will video record a practice TV interview and critique it together.

Special bonus: All participants will receive a current database of over 25 radio, TV, and magazine producers as a helpful head-start to contact for interview requests.

Click here to get details and register today.

Note: Don't delay - a minimum of 5 people must register by October 15th for this event to take place. The group size will be capped at 10 attendees. 

"The advanced media training that I received from Rob Eagar was outstanding - thorough, practical, and behavior-changing. He prepared me to successfully tackle any kind of radio and TV interview, and helped lower my anxiety about managing unexpected questions. Most importantly, Rob showed me how to steer audiences towards making a purchase. Working with Rob helped my new book hit the CBA bestseller list in the first 30 days!"

Dr. Paul White

Co-author of The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace

Monday Morning Marketing Tip - September 19, 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:
Facebook currently has over 750 million users worldwide, which makes it the largest social network in history and a powerful marketing tool for individuals and businesses. However, setting up a presence on Facebook doesn't replace the need for an effective website, whether it's personal or organizational. Even though Facebook is the dominant player on the Internet, social media will always be in a state of flux. New services will continue replace the current popular services that everyone loves. For instance, do you remember MySpace? Probably not. Yet, a short time ago, it used to be top dog. Today, it's the butt of online jokes. Likewise, the new Google+ network is already making efforts to compete with Facebook and steal away marketshare.

Therefore, you should maintain an Internet headquarters to market your message that isn't dependent on other services that could be here today and gone tomorrow. That's why a well-constructed website is so important. I'm not implying that you avoid using Facebook, Twitter, and the various online options available. You would be wise to use social networking to your advantage. But, not at the expense of neglecting to create your own website. A fancy Facebook page does not equal a website. People still prefer a one-stop-shop where they can go online to learn everything about your message. Social networking services can't offer the kind of flexibility and promotional power that comes with a website.

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 - September 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:
If you're an author who desires a larger platform, it won't happen by itself. You can't sit around waiting for Oprah or Good Morning America to call. Platform growth happens through steady action over time. If you feel like you're not growing fast enough, ask yourself at the end of every month, "Is my platform bigger in any way than it was 30 days ago?" Be honest and assess what's occurred. Use the following list to examine signs of growth:

• How many new subscribers signed up for my newsletter in the last month?
• How many new Twitter followers or Facebook fans joined my social network?
• How many new speaking engagements or signings did I book?
• How many new media interviews did I schedule?
• How many new testimonials did I receive?
• How many new people subscribed to my blog?
• How many more website visitors did I receive this month versus last?

Are you putting effort each month into making these numbers grow and tracking the results? If not, then maybe that's why your platform is stuck in neutral. Fortunately, these are easy steps that you can take and great motivators to help you stay focused on reaching a larger audience for your book.

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 - September 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:
There's an unhealthy tendency among some authors and business owners to start a new marketing activity with the expectation that it should create a huge, immediate return. These people will start a new blog, send out a new newsletter, or create their first press release under the belief that it will make lightning strike and miraculously change their business. But, that's like sending your child to the first grade and expecting him or her to immediately be ready to graduate from high school in 30 days.


Results take time, and marketing is the process of staying consistent, which means generating results over the long run - just like going to school. Therefore, you should stick with any new marketing activity for at least 90 days before you decide to stop it, and avoid a "one and done" mentality. Your goal should be to build a growing awareness for your message that continually shows up in different venues. Most people need to see evidence of your value several times before they will decide to buy.

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

click here.

© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.