Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Authors Need To Ask For What They Want In Order To Get It


       AEE 1210: How to Ask for Something Back and Avoid Sounding Mean in ...

For many years, musicians were told, when they asked “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” that the answer was simply “practice.”

So the question posed to authors, “How do you market a book successfully?” can be answered just as simply: “Ask for what you want.”

That’s it. There is the secret formula. You don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars attending marketing seminars or hiring book consultants. I just told you what you need to know. That’s everything!

Ok, it sounds too simple, right? It has to be a lot more than that, doesn’t it?

No, that’s it. Ask and you shall receive.

Maybe not all of the time. Maybe most of the time you get nothing. Doesn’t matter. It is a numbers game – ask often, and sometimes you will receive something. Ask the right way, at the right time, and sometimes you get a lot more than you even hoped for.

Think of things you can ask for:

·         Media coverage
·         Social media connections
·         Book sales
·         Speaking opportunities
·         Testimonials
·         Positive book reviews

The simple point is this: You must advocate for yourself. Speak up – and often. Seek out opportunities and make a situation one that could be favorable to you. Ask for help. People will help you, whether with advice, introductions to key people, or simply by doing what you ask. And why would they do that?

Many people have a desire to help others. They feel good giving someone something when it costs them nothing to do so. Others help because they expect a favor down the road or hope to trade something of value now. Others help simply because they were asked and feel obligated to respond. Whatever the reason is, I know that some people will help you sometimes, so why not ask as many people for as many things possible?

Set different goals and then look to achieve progress towards achieving those goals by utilizing the assistance of others.

What can people give you?

·         Money, whether in the form of a sale, a loan, a gift
·         Provide useful information
·         Share ideas or identify resources
·         Emotional support
·         Introductions to a network of others

So does this mean you have to simply look at people as a resource to use and abuse? Absolutely not. But you should think about what you need and who can help you get it. At the very least, you should look at everyone in your circle of friends, family, colleagues, online connections, etc and make a list of what they know and do, who they know, what skills they possess, and how they may have something you want or can utilize.

Don’t tell me you are shy, quiet, or not the type to seek out others. Don’t tell me you have a small network or that you don’t feel comfortable owing someone a favor. Put all of that psychological baggage to the side. You are now an author seeking to market your book. You are hungry for success and feel a sense of urgency to brand yourself and sell your book. It’s time to do something about it.

Essentially, you are only as good as your network. If your network needs to be expanded, diversified, and improved, then do that. Make that a priority. Once you have enough good people in your hemisphere you can call upon them to get what you need.

Of course there are different ways to ask for something, and the bigger the ask, the bigger the give you will need to provide. That’s okay. Just keep trading up. Think of your resources – what you can give to others that is of value – and cash them in to upgrade to what you need and want.

There are so many books on sales, marketing, success, and wealth, and though achieving anything requires a number of skills, resources, training, experiences, connections, ideas, and luck, a big common denominator to any formula is that we all need to ask others for something. We can’t do it alone. We all need help, whether we pay for it, trade for it, borrow it, or get a lucky favor from others.

Embrace this mentality of asking for things. You have nothing to lose. So you ask and they say no, so what? But if you ask and they help, you win. No downside. Forget the fear of rejection or feeling embarrassed or awkward by asking. Who cares? Just ask, ask, and ask some more.

First, ask questions. Get information and learn things.

Second, ask for introductions to those you believe can help you.

Third, ask for something small that doesn’t obligate someone to do much, but it is something that is still of value to you.

Fourth, ask in a way that says you are prepared to trade something for what you inquire about. Quid pro quo is totally the way to go.

Fifth, ask in a way that allows you to barter for what you want, especially if you feel you are getting more out of the trade.

Sixth, make an investment and be willing to pay for what you want if you feel down the road, this will buy you something of value that you could otherwise not get.

Be a kid again. What did you do when you wanted a toy? You asked your dad or begged your mom, right? If you don’t ask, you don’t get, for sure, but if you ask and only break through 1 in 10 times, 1 in 20 times, or whatever, hey, you win! Well, the book world is the same way. 

Ask, beg, barter, or buy your way to marketing your book successfully.


Birth Of A Blog: Nine years ago -- May 13, 2011 -- I launched my award-winning blog. Here is the very first post: https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/donald-trump-branding-lessons-for.html


PLEASE CONSULT THESE TIMELY RESOURCES

Powerful 2020 Book Marketing Toolkit -- FREE

How Do Authors Promote Books When The Media Is Corona Centric?

Advice to Authors From A Book Promoter of 30 Years

How Are Authors Selling Books Through A Pandemic?

A Book Marketing Pandemic Playbook

What Types of Books Can Get Media Coverage Now?

The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers & Authors

What Should You Do to Market Your Book?


Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2020. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America.

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