If this situation describes you, then I suggest that you start asking readers for testimonials or put together some focus groups. You need honest feedback to know if your book provides solutions (nonfiction), entertainment (fiction), or insight (both) that people actually appreciate. Writing a book without understanding your value is like driving a car without ever putting it into forward gear. You're stuck in neutral going nowhere.
On the other hand, maybe you don't know your book's value but it happens to be selling reasonably well. That's because the public figured out your value and responded to it. Yet, that's not their responsibility - it's the author's job. Imagine how many more books you would sell if you understood your value and proactively used it in all of your marketing materials. You could create momentum that leads to exponential growth.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday Morning Marketing Tip - July 25, 2011
Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.
When I teach authors how to identify the value of their books, sometimes I get the response, "I'm not sure if my book really creates results for people. I've never stopped to ask anyone or analyze if my material was helpful to others. I just felt a desire to write a book, so I did it."
Ignoring the need to clarify your value is like a new restaurant ignoring the need to taste-test its recipes. The owner hopes his food is good, but he never lets potential customers test to see if they actually like it. A restaurant with that mentality wouldn't stay in business for very long. Likewise, books usually struggle to sell when the author is clueless about its value. Do you know the value of your book?
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© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Monday Morning Market Tip - July 18, 2011
Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.
The best way to get people to buy your book is to buy it yourself. When I say "buy it," I don't mean purchasing cases of copies to fill-up your garage (been there, done that). Instead, you've got to buy-in to your book's value before you can convince other people to do the same. If you write a half-hearted book that doesn't move you personally, then you probably won't move many people to make a purchase. Readers can usually sense when an author is passionate about their subject or story versus when they just phone it in to get the book completed. Thus, as you write your book, pretend like you're a skeptical reader and ask yourself:
- Does this book create a specific positive result for me that I can explain to others?
- Has my life changed due to writing this book?
- How is my book worth the purchase price?
- Did I pour myself into this book or just do the minimum to finish?
The first sale is always to yourself. If you want more people to buy your books, make sure that you're the very first customer.
To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,
© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Over 19,000 Women Signed-up for Renee Swope's 7-Day Doubt Diet
WildFire client, Renee Swope, has over 19,000 women signed-up to take her 7-Day Doubt Diet. This is an amazing number considering that her new book, A Confident Heart, isn't available until August 1st. Renee's publisher, Revell, hired WildFire Marketing to create the content for this powerful word-of-mouth resource. We're excited to see so many women participating so quickly. Visit Renee's website to join thousands of women who are learning how to put their doubts and fears on a diet.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday Morning Marketing Tip - July 11, 2011
Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.
I can't help but chuckle when I see those funny Dos Equis commercials about "The Most Interesting Man in the World." But, there's actually a learning point for authors in this humor. There's no better way to create an online community for marketing your book than by becoming an object of interest. In essence, your style as a writer and the message of your book needs to be presented in a way that peaks curiosity in others. If not, people will have no desire to follow you. That's because people won't become your fan unless you give them a clear reason to do so. I know this sounds obvious, but it's that's simple. If you engage in social media but can't seem to build a growing community, then people probably don't regard you as interesting. You're lost in the mix of more appealing authors getting attention.
If you're struggling to determine how to make yourself an object of interest, then try this exercise. List five authors that you follow regularly on Facebook, Twitter, or their blog. Write out the specific reasons why these authors appeal to you. What makes them an object of interest? How are they able to hold your attention? How can you mimic what they do and apply it to your own approach?
Big Announcement!
New book entitled, Sell Books Like Wildfire, coming in May, 2012
I'm excited to announce that Writer's Digest publishing house has agreed to publish my new book, Sell Books Like Wildfire. The planned release date is May, 2012. This will be the most comprehensive, advanced-level, book marketing resource ever published. Topics covered will include how to improve your author branding, website power, social media activities, newsletters, public speaking, media interviews, Amazon presence, and much more. There will even be a special chapter just for novelists about how to market fiction - without ever leaving your house.
I look forward to partnering with Writer's Digest. They've been helping authors hone their craft since 1920. If you've never checked out their website, visit www.writersdigest.com today. More details on the new book to come in the near future.
To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,
© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Monday Morning Marketing Tip - July 4, 2011
Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.
Happy Fourth of July!
Every community needs a hub and a leader who keeps everything together. As an author, you should position yourself as the ringleader whom all of your readers revolve around. This doesn't mean that you act like an arrogant dictator who bosses people. Instead, you act as the central point for online communication. You can create this dynamic by setting up an author website and specific pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube. These sites serve as meeting points for your followers to receive updates, new content, post feedback, and converse with other members of the community.
You want the online activity to happen around you, rather than wait for someone else to setup and control the discussion about your books. If you wait, then you'll be on the outside looking in on a conversation about your own work, which is awkward. That's like waiting for someone else to throw you a birthday party. It may never happen, or it may not be your kind of fun. So, take the initiative to setup on your own online presence and maintain it as the leader. This means checking in at least every few days to post new information, address comments, and wield your status as an object of interest to keep people connected. Feed the discussion with open-ended questions, articles, latest news, quizzes, free resources, etc.
How to Sell Books Like WildFire!
Saturday, July 9, 2011 in Atlanta, GA.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,
© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday Morning Marketing Tip - June 27, 2011
Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.
I'm surprised by how many authors are frustrated by all of the work it takes to market their books. I think to myself, "What did you expect? If you didn't write a book with the desire to promote it, then why write it in the first place?" Books don't sell themselves.
Did you have kids without considering all of the hard work it would require to raise them? Of course not. Yet, books are no different. They need constant attention, especially when they're newly born. Fortunately, instead of having to change diapers, endure doctor's visits, and feed in the middle of the night, all your book needs is some consistent love via social media, free resources, radio interviews, public speaking, blog posts, etc. If marketing frustrates you, try looking at your book like having a baby without the birth pains. That should make you feel better already.
How to Sell Books Like WildFire!
Saturday, July 9, 2011 in Atlanta, GA.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,
© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday Morning Marketing Tip - June 20, 2011
Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.
I've worked with a lot of authors who come from the academic world, such as counselors, psychologists, professors, ministers, and doctors. In most cases, these individuals believe that their intelligence and education will allow them to write a mainstream book that appeals to the masses. To their chagrin, however, they often run into an unforeseen challenge.
Many academic-minded authors forget that the average person has no desire to go back to school. They don't want to read a textbook or an exhausting study of a problem. And, they certainly don't like authors who drone on through a boring manuscript like the monotonous teacher in the movie, "Ferris Bueller." If you're an author trying to making the leap from academia into the everyday world, keep these points in mind:
- Don't tell the reader everything you know. Tell them only what they need to know.
- Don't expect people to be enthralled with your credentials. The average Joe doesn't care.
- Make your concepts simple, or you will make it difficult for people to buy your book.
- Use word pictures, metaphors, and visual aids as much as possible.
- Inject emotion and enthusiasm into your topic - even more than you typically feel comfortable. Academic institutions tend to strip emotion out of the learning process.
- Remember that logic makes people think, but emotion makes them act.
How to Sell Books Like WildFire!
Saturday, July 9, 2011 in Atlanta, GA.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,
© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Monday Morning Marketing Tips - June 13, 2011
Rob Eagar's Monday Morning Marketing Tip
is written to help authors, publishers, and organizations
spread their message like wildfire.
When you're conducting a speaking engagement, book-signing, or media interview, make the audience aware of any free resources you have available (you do have free resources, right?). Don't expect people to figure it out by themselves. State the obvious. The trick to success is in the manner that you mention these marketing tools. To prevent sounding like a shameless self-promoter, I recommend incorporating your tools into the natural flow of your presentation. For example, you could:
Your marketing tools will have a stronger effect on your audience when they can see the immediate use and benefit. Thus, you need to make the benefit apparent by openly mentioning your tool, showing it to the audience, and encouraging them to use it. This way, you can generate interest without being pushy by incorporating your tools smoothly into your message.
a. Open your discussion with a quiz.
b. Show exclusive imagery or a visual aid when telling a personal story.
c. Integrate one of your how-to articles into your speech that answers a problem.
d. Offer a free resource as an application step for the audience to use the next day.
Join Rob in Atlanta, GA on July 9th
Advanced Book Marketing Workshop for Authors:
How to Sell Books Like WildFire!
Saturday, July 9, 2011 in Atlanta, GA.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
All attendees receive 30 days of follow-up with Rob Eagar by phone and email.
Click here for details and registration.
To receive Rob's Monday Morning Marketing Tips sent directly to your email inbox,
© Rob Eagar 2011. All rights reserved.
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