Why a Book Signing is a Newsperson?s Nightmare
8629
Business > Entrepreneurs
Mar 1, 2007
Shannon Cherry
Why a Book Signing is a Newsperson?s Nightmare
The book signing: a standard for any author. After all, what better way to get your name and book out there than to appear at a book store, giving autographs to an adoring public.
Wrong!
For a publicity seeker, a book signing is really the kiss of death. It?s not newsworthy. It focuses on the author, not the book buyer. It?s boring. And I hate to say it: no one really cares, except for the author and maybe his or her mother.
But you can make something out of this nothing. The key is to make this non-event a real event.
1) Focus on the customer. You know who your target market is for the book, now take advantage of it. Make sure your event is in the part of the bookstore where your market shops.
2) Don?t hide behind a desk. Get out there and talk to your target market. Find out their needs and wants and offer some tips to help.
3) Hold a mini-workshop. Offer quick 20-minute workshops (which you can publicize in the media) based on your knowledge and use the book as a reference.
4) Use postcards to promote. Postcards are a hot commodity when marketing a book. But again, think about the customer. Add some tips or advice to the postcard to get them interested; then tell them about the book signing.
5) Create your own holiday. Pick any day and make it your own that relates to your book. For example, the authors of ?Become Your Own Great & Powerful: A Woman?s Guide to Living Your Real, Big Life? (including me), got together and created International Tiara Day, which celebrates every woman?s leadership capabilities to find her own path to success. Don?t forget to share this with readers and the media.
6) Give some books away. During every talk and every event, give at least on signed copy of your book to a lucky participant. It creates good will, and who doesn?t want the chance to win something?
7) Don?t forget the book store employees. Books do not sell themselves. People sell books. It's equally important to spend some of your time at your signing to schmooze with the people who take the money from the customers who buy your books. Get to know the staff at the bookstore. They can help you continue to sell your books long after you have gone.
Wrong!
For a publicity seeker, a book signing is really the kiss of death. It?s not newsworthy. It focuses on the author, not the book buyer. It?s boring. And I hate to say it: no one really cares, except for the author and maybe his or her mother.
But you can make something out of this nothing. The key is to make this non-event a real event.
1) Focus on the customer. You know who your target market is for the book, now take advantage of it. Make sure your event is in the part of the bookstore where your market shops.
2) Don?t hide behind a desk. Get out there and talk to your target market. Find out their needs and wants and offer some tips to help.
3) Hold a mini-workshop. Offer quick 20-minute workshops (which you can publicize in the media) based on your knowledge and use the book as a reference.
4) Use postcards to promote. Postcards are a hot commodity when marketing a book. But again, think about the customer. Add some tips or advice to the postcard to get them interested; then tell them about the book signing.
5) Create your own holiday. Pick any day and make it your own that relates to your book. For example, the authors of ?Become Your Own Great & Powerful: A Woman?s Guide to Living Your Real, Big Life? (including me), got together and created International Tiara Day, which celebrates every woman?s leadership capabilities to find her own path to success. Don?t forget to share this with readers and the media.
6) Give some books away. During every talk and every event, give at least on signed copy of your book to a lucky participant. It creates good will, and who doesn?t want the chance to win something?
7) Don?t forget the book store employees. Books do not sell themselves. People sell books. It's equally important to spend some of your time at your signing to schmooze with the people who take the money from the customers who buy your books. Get to know the staff at the bookstore. They can help you continue to sell your books long after you have gone.
Content Provider: http://www.traffichelp4u.com
Shannon Cherry, APR, MA helps businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations to be heard. Subscribe today for Be Heard! a FREE biweekly ezine and get a FREE special report. Go to: www.cherrycommunications.com/FreeReport.htm
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
The book signing: a standard for any author. After all, what better way to get your name and book out there than to appear at a book store, giving autographs to an adoring public. Wrong! For a publicity seeker, a book signing
Category:
Take a couple of kids at home, combine a mom with little business and marketing experience, and add a mother's desire to launch a new business What do you have? The ingredients for potential entrepreneurial failure. This is exactly the
Category:
So you got your book published. Congratulations. Having a book in print helps you build your redibility as an expert in your field. But if you?re relying on your publisher to promote your book, you?re in for a real shok. Unless you?re a
Category:
Written words are a powerful marketing tool. They have the ability to persuade, reason, explain & direct the reader to take action. They can hold someone's imagination and open them up to possibilities never before visualized. But used improperly or
Category:
The circular file next to the reporter?s desk: it?s the last place you wt to be when trying to get media coverage. But statistics show that almost 95% of news release never see the light of day. If you wt to get out of the trash heap
Category:
Other links at Business > Entrepreneurs
Marketing and understanding just how to establish success in any at-home product launch can be tough, especially when you are attempting to salvage your business.
Category:
When owning your own business, it is essential for your business, that you possess a route map which signifies exactly how you will achieve your business goals. Without such a plan in place, your business could be jeopardy and may well fail.
Category:
Why eBay selling is the easiest and quickest way to make money on the internet.
Category:
Finding the right online business opportunity can be confusing because there's so many to choose from. However, there are three very profitable business models that have always been successful. Use one of these models to help you build a profitable online
Category:
Why the claim in the headline? Because in the affiliate program system the merchant has solved so many things, that a newbie can concentrate only into marketing. This makes it much easier to start your own internet business.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68214
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
