Untitled Document

Writing a marketable book can bring you the positive attention and credibility you desire as an author. But, in order to generate this success, potential readers within your target market must be immediately attracted to your title, cover and topic – and personally relate to your message and content.

Positioning is defining all that is special about you, your target audience, your business and your book.

When your book is positioned as a powerful magnet to attract new and more lucrative clients to your core business, it can generate even more revenue than books sales.

2. Plan your marketing approach considering your network

If you want access to broadcast and print media, want to have your book reviewed and want more speaking engagements to attract your audience, consider your network. Let your clients and contacts know you are an author and that you are actively looking for media opportunities. Prepare to be seen as expert so that the media will call you when there is a news story on which they need expert commentary. Have a full media kit available electronically on your web site so that you will be ready for media attention at a moment’s notice.

3. Think multiple streams of income

Your book is just one product you can develop from your thoughts and ideas. Think seminars, teleclasses, keynotes, CDs and more. You can develop many informational products at the same time and create a stream of income from lower to higher priced products.

Here are three success strategies for aspiring authors:

Your choice: Self publishing or traditional publishing

There are two completely legitimate methods to get your book from idea to reality. But each has pros and cons. You need to decide which is right for you.

Self-publishing can result in more money to the author, but getting a self-published book into most bookstores is still tough. But be careful; printers will print anything you send them – good or bad. If your budget is tight, don’t scrimp on editing or your book cover.

Traditional publishing might be for you if you are looking for validation of your expertise and international distribution - and you want someone else to handle it.

A compromise: Consider self-publishing your book first. You will have a product to sell while you are looking for a traditional publisher and even after you find one. You can typically sell your self-published edition until the 2nd edition is published.

Don’t EVER pay someone who represents themselves as a publisher, to publish your book.

Legitimate traditional publishers pay you – you don’t pay them. If you self-publish, you pay for the costs of printing, but don’t buy any extras from the “publisher”. If you have any doubt if your publisher is a legitimate publisher, please ask us. We’d be delighted to help you avoid a publishing disaster!

You are solely responsible for marketing and promotion for your book

Begin NOW to develop a network that will serve you once your book is out. How to network? Help others. Look for ways to do something for the people you’d like to connect with. Don’t wait to develop a network when you want something. Meet everyone you can who writes, publishes, or promotes authors. An easy way to connect with all the right people? Join eWomenPublishingNetwork!

Jan B. King has been involved in the publishing industry for the past 25 years.. She headed Merritt Publishing, a 37-year-old publishing company, for eight years, and worked as the editor and editorial director at Merritt for an additional eight years. As Merritt’s President and CEO, King propelled the small, niche publisher into a nationally recognized name in financial information for professionals and consumers. The company was sold to a computer-based training company in 1998. Jan's first book, Business Plans to Game Plans was published by John Wiley & Sons in 2004, and her second book, Smart Women Publish was published in 2005.