Book Marketing Doggy Style

I was at the dog run with Daisy, my nearly four-year old English Bulldog.  She loves it there and I love watching her get her ya-yas out on the field of grass that’s been touched by the paws and hearts of so many jumping, running, and tail-wagging dogs.  It dawned on me that dogs can do a great job of marketing themselves. 

Perhaps authors and book publishers can learn a few things from our canine companions.  For instance:

1.      Dogs are strangers to one another but they instantly meet and greet those around them.  They fearlessly know how to work a room.  You should be just as open and free-spirited as them and just say hi to others and introduce yourself to anyone who will listen.

2.      Dogs are excellent at using body language to convey a point.  We rely so often on our words to communicate with others, but give thought to your body movements, your eye contact, your appearance, and your vibe.

3.      Be playful and friendly.  Dogs, after a few sniffs of one another, begin to play together, chasing one another, rolling over on dirt, or pushing their heads into the other dog.

4.      Dogs win us over with humor because they make us laugh at the things they do, the expressions they display, and the way their tongues hang out.  Use humor to win others over.

5.      Dogs bond over food.  They will be your best friend if you engage them with a treat.  You can’t necessarily snack your way into friendships, but buying someone a drink or bonding over a meal is a good way to develop a relationship.

6.      Dogs can be verbal without words.  They make sounds from barks to whimpers to growls to yawns.  They don’t hide anything – they make their feelings and needs known.  Try the same thing – let others know how you feel and you may just get an honest answer back.

7.      Dogs use a lot of energy, running and jumping all over the place.  They are very passionate.  Show some enthusiasm when talking to others.

We can’t do everything a dog does.  Try walking around outside naked or taking a shit on the street and you may get a few stares.  But dogs can certainly lead the way in showing humans how to get along with one another.

Network like a dog and you are sure to be successful in book publishing.

Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This blog is copyrighted material by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2013