I know, I know, I know … marketing is crucial to your book success. So are YOU. Meaning, what are you doing to position you and your expertise in the right markets?
- Are you coat-tailing what your competitors are doing?
- Are you using every conceivable word or phrase that might bring buyers to you?
- Are you a master at “BB Gun Marketing?
I suggest you think again. I get using keyword phrases and highly recommend it for websites and blogs. But, is it really accurate? Are you cramming every word that in an internet search might bring someone to you for assistance or advice and you are really, really a lightweight on the topic? In other words, are you “stuffing” the search word box?
Do the words you use really, really narrow in on your expertise … or are you positioning yourself as a generalist when you use every conceivable word? Are you making yourself findable to all … you deep down, you know that “the all” is not your market?
I’m a book coach and book publishing expert. I have a broad expertise in publishing—in the traditional area, the independent area, and the self-publishing area. As in 30 plus years’ worth—I’ve been there, done that … for me, I can walk and talk and chew gum at the same time when it comes to publishing.
For this year, I encourage you to focus on what you do and are versus what you think every potential buyer needs.
When I work with authors and then move them to the layout stages of the books, the book designers can easily see when I’ve had my hands, eyes, and mind on an author’s book. I’ve had comments from some of the book award organization’s that they can tell when I’ve been involved with a book entry—in fact when one heard the title of my next book, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech, he asked if he could do the Foreword. Whew—I’m honored!
Embrace and shout out what you excel out—be the go-to brain surgeon; not the guy or gal who can suture a minor cut.
This is how you build super fans. A very good thing.
My two-bits. What say you?
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has 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, How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos has earned 7 national book awards in 2017. Get your copy now.
Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged Bootcamp, a three-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2018, the dates are June 23-25. Participate in her Judith Briles Speaking Unplugged Bootcamp held in March and November. 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 join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
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