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more center stage in this new era
where more writers are acting as their own publishers.
We all come to realize sooner or later that writing the
book is just phase one of the book project. Getting the damn book in front of
readers, phase two, is also of paramount importance to its success and, by
extension, the writers sense of achievement (not to mention financial reward).
‘If you’re writing for a major publishing house, you will
probably pass the marketing test before your book gets accepted. Books are
chosen based on marketing appeal as well as the author’s writing skill and
timeliness of topic.’ --- Cathy Goodwin, Phd.
When do you start your book marketing strategy? When you
first start laying out and diagramming your new book storyline; even before you
write the first word!
You do this by designing a marketing checklist that you
apply as you build your new storyline. An example is defining or fine tuning
your story so it fits into a particular genre; this lends your book to easier
marketing trends/strategies and placement in bookstores. This singular built-in
marketing concept will also invite more professional reviews and reviewers.
Nonfictional books already have a built-in marketing
checklist, of sorts, in the form of their ‘Book Proposals’, which must be
submitted before approval by major houses. Book proposals address such things
as: Market for your story and demographics of proposed readership, why your
book is different from others of similar subject matter, table of contents of
your proposed book, proposed summary of the chapters of your nonfiction work,
etc.
Now, this by Cathy Goodwin, PhD, published author, copywriter, writing coach, top reviewer and
speaker.
Does
Your Book Pass the Marketing Test? A Reviewer’s 7 Point Checklist
Authors frequently think of “book marketing” when the book is
printed and ready to hit the shelves. In fact, nonfiction book marketing begins
before you write the first line. After your book has been written and
published, you and your marketing team will have to look for marketing copy,
reviewers and more.
If you’re writing for a major publishing house, you will probably
pass the marketing test before your book gets accepted. Books are chosen based
on marketing appeal as well as the author’s writing skill and timeliness of
topic. When you write for yourself or for a smaller house, of if you don’t have
a promotion budget, you are on your own.
Before you come to the final moment when you say, “This book is
finished!” here are 7 points to check off.
1. Your
book belongs to ONE genre and you know ONE place where it belongs on a
bookstore shelf. Mixed
genres (such as self-help plus memoir) rarely succeed in the marketplace.
If you’re not sure what genre is, or what genre best characterizes
your book, you’ll need to visit a bookstore, talk to some people and get some
professional advice. Without understanding “genre,” you can’t market you book
or get reviewers.
2. Your
book has a simple theme that you can state in a sentence or two. When someone asks, “What’s your book about?” you can’t go on for
ten minutes. You need a concept statement that lets the reader know exactly what the book is about. You’ll need
this statement when you look for book reviews.
For instance, my relocation book’s theme was “the psychological aspects
of moving.” Sometimes I would add, “Lots of books tell you how to pack a box;
this one tells you how to pack your life.”
3. Your
book fits together with a simple unifying premise that can be explained easily. For instance, my relocation book was premised on, “Relocation
changes your identity in three ways.”
4. Your
chapter titles expand the theme and also read like copywriting headlines. Readers will pick up your book and skim the table of contents.
You’re selling them on the importance of digging in.
5. Each
chapter has hooks that grab the reader’s attention. When you hook the reader in the first paragraph, you’ve probably
got a reader who will finish the chapter and continue to the next one, until
the book is done.
6. You
know what the book adds to the existing possibilities. If asked, “How is your book different?” you have a clear, accurate
response.
7. Your
book is written concisely. Recently
I was asked to review a memoir with a fascinating premise. But when I saw the
book was 500 pages of tiny type, I gave up. A few books can get away with
monumental size, usually if the author is famous to the point of notoriety.
Most will end up as doorstops.
When your book passes this checklist, you’re likely to get awesome
reviews, and you won’t have to struggle to get them.
The Writers Welcome Blog is available on your Kindle here :)))
Article resource: http://wordpreneur.com/16532/does-your-book-pass-the-marketing-test-a-reviewers-7-point-checklist/
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