If you have a product—a book, consulting services or any other product—today, it’s all about being “out there”—exposed, talked about, findable.
YES … Authors must be findable… easily findable. Right now … open a new tab on the browser you have opened or open a new browser. What’s your expertise or your tagline. Type it in and do a “search” … what pops up? YOU … or someone else?
Online is your friend–it’s the town hall–the global business card. You don’t want to get lost in the midst of what feels like nowhere.
Your 3 BIG Questions Every Author Needs to ASK … and ANSWER … NOW!
Do You Know Where Your Book Sales Come From?
Do You Know Where Your Clients Come From?
Do You Know Where Your ____ Comes From?
Having a marketing and sales background, it was drilled in that I had to follow my leads, track my leads, and know where my business came from. Maybe. Maybe not … at least today. The Internet has changed a lot of the rules of yesterday … yesteryear. It’s a fast forward time…
Maybe it’s time to stop asking the question, Do you know where your business is coming from? Because there isn’t a definite answer. Maybe the answer is in the response zone of “… just because.”
The more that you are “out there,” the more difficult it is to track where your sales and business comes from. It’s a “just because” … you are visible, you are findable … and best of all, you are reachable.
I can’t tell you the number of people who have engaged me to speak to a group because a friend of a friend heard me speak at a conference; or that someone said that they should get my book; or that they needed an expert in my topic and found my name or my website; or that they found one of my books and eventually contacted me directly (because that information was included in the book); or that they need a book shepherd. I’m on the Internet via personal websites, posted articles, and easily found via Google. Are you? Your company? Your expertise? Your services?
And, to the surprise of many … I answer the phone when I’m in my office. With cell phones … the office is anywhere … anytime. One of my clients found me at 7 in the evening Colorado time when I answered the phone—it wasn’t evening or afternoon where he was—he was in China and found me via the Internet—it was 10 in the morning, next day for him. We connected; I understood his book, and we are moving to rewrites and then the layout.
It amuses me when the caller expresses surprise that I answer my own phone. Why shouldn’t I?
The real question is: Why shouldn’t you?
It’s the pinball effect—people jump around until they find the fit for them. Findable. Trackable. And you just don’t know which pinball hole it will drop into.
The reality is that most people buy—they buy anything—based on emotions. When they are seeking help, services are a product … they are most likely in the “buy” mode. Are you visible? Are you reachable? Can you verbally connect with them and “hear” their needs? Can you be found with a few keywords and a computer? Are you working on today’s model or still stuck in tracking the numbers?
I’m optimistic about authors and writers. It’s part of my DNA. I’m looking forward to setting dates for next year’s Unplugged events. love the Author Friendly Friday coaching sessions each week. I’ve got a zillion ideas for YouTube adds and bringing in a new set of sponsors for my podcast for authors and publishers. And, not to mention, the amazing array of books that are birthing under The Book Shepherd this year. Oh, this year hasn’t been easy, but it’s not hopeless. Most of us have had challenges–some more than others. You and I will get through them.
So, what do you plan?
Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and author of 37 multi-award books. She’s guided over 1,000 authors in creating their books, earned in excess of $3,000,000 in speaking fees based on her books and gathered over $2,000,000 in onsite book sales at her speaking gigs. Her book, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech flips a difficult topic into a simple and easily comprehensible plan. If you want to get into speaking, this is the guide that will be the game-changer to success. And, if you want to know more about Judith’s life, her book of “hope” is When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present. You can get it HERE.
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