Learn How to Promote a Non-Fiction Book

 

So You Have a Book; Now What?

Online Book Promotion That Doesn't Break the Bank

The old saying, "if you build it they will come" does not apply in the world of book publishing. You can have the greatest book in the world, but if no one knows about it, no one will buy it.

Every year literally hundreds of thousands of books are printed, yet a whole lot of them don't sell many copies. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, you have to work to get people's attention.

As a non-fiction self-publisher, you may have looked into traditional book marketing techniques, such as doing book signings and tours. But then you read all the depressing statistics about how people spend hours setting up a signing, only to sit at a table at the back of a bookstore all by themselves.

Realistically, the marketing techniques for fiction and non-fiction are different. If you are a non-fiction writer publishing about a specialized topic, the techniques a mystery writer uses to sell books won't apply to you. The way you get your book in front of your audience is not the same as it is for mass-market fiction. Finding assistance with the specific problems associated with promoting non-fiction works can be a challenge.

The least expensive, and possibly the most effective, way to get the word out about your book is by promoting it online. On the Internet, groups of people with similar interests congregate. If you can find them and introduce them to the information in your book, some may buy.

Marketing Your Book Online Starts with a Web Site

As a self-publisher, you've probably looked into various ways of using the Internet to market your book. Obviously your first step is to get a Web site, but even that process can be confusing.

Generally, you need to hire a Web site designer. Assuming you can find a competent one (not a given), that person still may or may not understand that a book Web site has unique needs. Other "book sites" really are just a page or subdomain on someone else's book clearinghouse site. It's not easy to market using a long unmemorable URL like http://MyBook.SomeBigSite.com. Plus, your page will be one of many that all look the same.

Ideally, you want a stand-alone solution that is specifically designed for promoting a book, yet customized for your book in particular. Plus, it would be great if you could update it yourself, so you don't have to run to a Web designer, every time you do a press release or find a typo. Seems like a pipe dream? (maybe even an expensive pipe dream?)

If you are a writer, you may already have an online presence with access to your audience through articles, speaking engagements, or newsletters. You can leverage this marketing and promotion energy into a complete plan that includes your existing prospects along with Web site that presents your book in its best light.

Avoiding Online Information Overwhelm

As soon as you enter the rarified world of Web marketing and Internet development, you find tons of information. Unfortunately, it's hard to discern how much of it is any good. Interspersed in with realistic practical solutions, you'll find conflicting, confusing, ultra-nerdy, and sometimes downright unethical advice. Yes, tons of information exists online about marketing, but quite a bit of it doesn't apply to marketing physical products, much less publishing.

If you veer away from the Internet Marketing crowd, and head for publishing circles instead, you'd find a lot of people who are great at dealing with the editing, layout, and print materials, but many of these book coaches and packagers are over their heads technically when it comes to the Web.

Most book-oriented solutions available today revolve around traditional publishing because it is an established and well-understood business model. Although subsidy publishers have served the self-publishing market for quite some time, their book marketing offerings are limited and only available to customers who use their printing services.

Also, many non-fiction writers are just getting into self-publishing because POD technologies have become affordable and easy to implement. Experts in this new form of publishing are just now starting to emerge.

Narrowing the Field

As a self-publisher of non-fiction books, you need to work with someone who understands the unique requirements of marketing your work through the Internet using non-traditional means.

Do you...

• want an easy-to-update Web site that serves your prospects, your buyers, and the media?
• want a marketing plan that takes advantage of the connections you currently have with your audience?
• to be able to sell your own books directly through your Web site?

If so, we can help. Our Self-Publisher Book Web Site is a perfect solution for those people who need a site, but want the flexibiilty to update it. You pay a set up fee and a modest monthly hosting fee. After that you're free to add to and edit your site without having to call in a Web developer, every time you need to make a change.

If you already have a site and feel like it's not working, you may also want to check out these options for expert advice and solutions:

• Self-Publisher Web Site Critique - If you have discovered that your book Web site isn't working, but you don't know why get an outside, objective expert opinion.
• Self Publisher Web Site SEO Review - If your Web site is "invisible" online, our Self-Publisher Web Site Rank Up is an affordable way to get your site back on track.

No matter where you are in your online adventures, we can help you get where you want to go.

"After getting off the phone with you today, I started sending out emails locally to reporters I've dealt with in the past. I already have reviews lined up in The Buffalo News, Buffalo Business First and The Lancaster Bee. Yea! Plus, I have a few national leads already too! Not bad for an afternoon's work."
         ~ Maria Pascucci, Campus Calm
             (read more testimonials)

Book Promotion that Works Online

We can help you because we are you.

We self-publish our own line of non-fiction books (8 so far). We understand the problems you face because we have faced many of them ourselves. But one advantage we have that you may not is years and years of Web site development experience. We took all we had learned from years of developing sites online for other people and put them to work on our own series of book sites.

We can do the same thing for you.

After all, Wouldn't you like to work with someone who has already sifted through the massive amounts of information in marketing books and found the ones that take full advantage of the Internet? (Plus, we actually wrote our own book called Web Business Success: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Web Sites That Work.)

Wouldn't you like to work with another self-publisher who also happens to be experienced with Internet technology? We built our business around the Internet and we have the skills and resources necessary to deliver the best solution for the problems you face as an infopreneur. Imagine how you would feel knowing that your Internet presence is being assembled by someone who really understands what you need?

Having a great book Web site is crucial because it is the backbone of any Internet marketing plan you may follow, but it isn't enough by itself. We can also show you how to:

• Take advantage of the access you already have to your audience.
• Make "virtual" appearances through the Internet so you can market your book without having to travel.
• Help you with content for Internet marketing tools such as online newsletters, autoresponders, and Web site copy.

What to Do Next

If you are ready to take the next step and learn more about our online marketing products and services, please fill out our Book Marketing Questionnaire. We'll get in contact with you to discuss your situation, and you'll be under no obligation to buy. In fact, you may learn more about your needs just by filling out the questionnaire.

If you aren't ready to move forward just yet, but you would like to learn more about self-publishing, please do sign up for our free weekly Publishize Newsletter or podcast.

Each week the newsletter provides a new tip on how to write, publish, or market your books. Visit the Publishize newsletter archive to get a feel for the valuable information you will learn when you sign up.

Get a Free 15-Minute Consultation on Your Book Project by Filling Out Our Book Marketing Questionnaire

All of the information you provide below is completely confidential and incurs no obligation. Please answer each question as completely as possible so we can better understand your project.

First, please tell us a little about you. Fields with an asterisk are required.
* E-mail address
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Now, please tell us about your book project.
* What is the working title?
What is the subtitle?
List the titles of similar or competing books
How is your book different from similar books on the market?
How would you describe your audience?
Where do you plan to sell your book?	e.g. online, in book stores, at speaking engagements, etc.
What specific ways would you like to use to promote your book?	e.g. Web sites, online booksellers, author appearances, blog tours, advertising, etc.
How many copies of your book do you expect to sell?
What is your marketing budget?	$ This figure just helps us anticipate how much work you must do yourself versus how much can be outsourced to professionals.
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* Form Code (please enter the number 123867)	(helps reduce spam through this form)