Joan Stewart kicks off the AM with a fun video clip of an existing ads – throughout the AM session, she focused on the 7 things authors must include in their 2017 publicity plan … Hot tip for Authors: review movies, look at ads running. You are looking for the gem; the funny; the aha … that will connect with your point or audience.
Goal—ID your target market
- Take a sheet of paper; run a line down it.
- Top—Demographics / Passions …
- For Demographics: who are they: gender, behaviors, websites, fears/concerns, hobbies, age, where live, job titles, income, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, kids-ages, pets, religious affiliation
- For Passion: Hobbies and interest; causes or issues; what about lifestyle—home, clothing, cars; what do they read; what is favorite online and offline media; what are their biggest fears; what ate the biggest frustrations; what are their dreams; what keeps them up at 3 am
- Create a customer profile: who do you want to work with?
Here’s Joan’s… authors, speakers, experts, business owners and non-profit that want to self-promote on a shoestring budget. Also PR pros, publicists and marketers who need advice on how to get publicity for their clients. They live primarily in the U.S., Canada and Australia. Age range is 30-70. Seven out of 10 are women.
Author TIP … start creating yours and I encourage you to ALSO add: reminders who is NOT your market … and you stay away from it.
As a speaker, people would often ask me who I spoke for—I often would reply, let me tell you who I don’t speak for:
MUST DOS for Publicity:
- Use Hashtags.
- Tag an influencer—before you ask them for anything
- Share your content—make it easy
MUST DO for Self and Sales … Gather Names
Love this idea for collecting names at any type of event: get a zippered or latched purse or make-up type of small clutch. Pass it around with your words/pitch: I will be giving this (fun, beautiful, etc) clutch to someone in this room before I leave. To know who it is, here’s what you need to do: add your business card and a name will be picked. If you would like to be added to be Kick Butt Publishing Tips and blog—write TIPS on the back of your card—if you don’t want them, leave it blank. Pass the “clutch” around
Amy Collins walked everyone through the dollars, cents and of when and how to use Print on Demand in your publishing.
Compare your costs. Amazon’s CreateSpace is goosed up the quality of its printing from a “D” to an “A”. In most cases, it will be the best pricing for the author.
Amy’s Author POD Tip
IngramSpark … you want to use for BookStore and Library Access www.IngramSpark.com
CreateSpace … for Amazon Access www.CreateSpace.com (Amazon will buy from Ingram)
Nook Press … Barnes & Noble) B&N won’t buy from Amazon’s CreateSpace—it’s a late comer, but add files here as well. www.NookPress.com
Daniel Hall rounded the morning with one of my favs that is at the top of my personal To Do list—creating high profit products. It’s Step-by-Step Insider Secrets to Producing Highly-Profitable Webinars for Authors and Info-Publishers time.
Oh boy … Daniel is jumping right into how to use Jing – a terrific product that is FREE and allows you to capture your slides/video and create a teaching tool. Love this. 
I’m going to do another exclusive webinar with Daniel for all my followers on this topic. If you have “something” to say; a teaching tool that someone(s) just might be willing to paying to hear/see your words of wisdom … this is hot, hot to do.
Author Tip: Keep on creating … this is my Call to Action to you AND to me.
We are off to lunch, then our Promenade Book Signing. And we all cheered—it was announced in the Cruise Compass that was delivered to EVERY cabin plus the Cruise Director just announced over the ships intercom system.
Lunch … YUMMERS. Nineteen of us gathered at the Sabaro .. one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve eaten in.
Here’s the sizzling news—over the two days, we sold 134 books. Every author sold. All the authors were thrilled with the results and those who were still looking to complete their books … several authors sold out.
Book Signing … another great afternoon. Our authors are giddy of the phone, the interaction with ship’s passengers and their personal success. And let’s face it … how many of you can say that you had a major cruise line sponsor a book signing for you?
Look who came to our Book Signing: Captain Tony!
Nancy Ragno pitches her book!
Jacqueline Galloway is ready to sign and greet!
Final session … is with Daniel Hall again. Literally, how to roll out a webinar that hooks listeners/viewers. Truly, another step-by-step how-to. Attendees were shown the set up; how to engage throughout; when and how to place a call to action—sometimes there are multiples—and how to make an offer that can’t be refused.
After a final wrap up, all, and I mean ALL, felt that this was the best of our Publishing at Sea cruises … that it only gets better each year. Yes, we deliver an author and publishing overwhelm. The material presented is worth its weight in publishing gold.
If you want to be with in in 2018, the date is January 21-28 on the beautiful Allure of the Seas. Information is starting to be posted on the website: www.PublishingAtSea.com.
Our final dinner together and its mixed with lots of laughter, hugs and a few tears. We are all friends and soon to be separated. As I walked into the dining room, and approached our group of 47, they all started to applaud and stood and cheered. Oh my, what a commotion. It’s the best heartfelt standing ovation I’ve received in the 30 years I’ve been speaking. –byes and then a few of us headed to Deck 11 for one final hot tub … followed by a final comedy show … and bid good night … with a
“see you next year” … yes indeed, we will.
Join us … call me at 303-885-2207 for more information on what we are up to and get your share of our golden nuggets in the Caribbean next January.
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 35 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #35 was published this summer: The How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos. Get your copy now.
Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2017, the dates are June 22-24th. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for “AuthorU – Your Guide to Book Publishing” on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow .
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching … call in to Judith’s Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 … have your questions ready–there’s a full hour to ask and listen