We
all sell our books by selling ourselves.
We rely on our core strength to be front and center, to convince people to
buy the book or the media to cover it.
But what’s your second or third best feature? You’ll need to know in order to go far.
When
talking about your book you might sell the contents, telling us what’s in it
and why it’s unique, new, comprehensive, etc. When talking about yourself, you
may highlight your credentials – pro experience, training, schooling, and personal
experiences. You might reference some
good media placements, key testimonials and the timeliness or relevance of your
message. But what if the facts aren’t
enough?
You
may believe a story is so strong that it sells itself, or that your insights
and experiences are so interesting that others should want to talk to you, but
there’s something else you need to closely look at and make sure it’s
strong. It’s your appearance, energy
level, creativity, and personality.
We
already agreed that book content and author credentials count for a lot and
they need to be clearly presented, but behind what you write or say are these
other intangibles that need to be groomed and perfected. These are what really sell others to take an
action step and to literally buy in.
Let’s
look closely at the likeability factor. Let’s face it, people judge us all day
and night. Is she pretty? Is she youthful? Is that one fat, pretty or dull? Is this one
cheap, ignorant, or selfish? We look at
one’s body, image, voice, scent, friendliness, level of enthusiasm, and body
language to determine if we want to buy a book from them – or interview them
for a story.
Take
a look at your appearance. Do you dress
the part? Is something distracting
others from listening to you? Are you in
good health and decent shape? Are you
attractive? I know this shouldn’t sound
like someone going to a dating site, but people do business with those they
admire or find are similar to them. What
are you showing others?
Next,
and the most easily corrected area, is your energy level. Get rest, eat right, exercise, and take vitamins,
consume caffeine, or do something to give you a shot of enthusiasm and
vibrancy. People feel moved by the
energy around them.
Then
look at your charisma. Are you a jokester, story teller or the helpful
resource? Do you listen with sympathy and empathy? Are you a charmer? What type of person are you putting forward?
Lastly,
how creative are you in what you say and do?
Think of how you can up your game and do things differently, better.
So,
as I asked earlier, do you know what it is that enthuses others to buy from
you, interact with you, or cover you in the media? Whatever your strengths are, you’ll need to
play them all up. Don’t rely on having
great content or a fabulous career. You
need to go the extra mile with your looks, passion, energy levels, and
personality. Otherwise, you’re not going
to be discovered or embraced the way you’d expect or hope for.
To
learn your strengths and identify weaknesses, look in a mirror. Then ask others around you with a checklist
for review, on what they perceive your strengths and weaknesses to be. Get prepared for a reality check, but don’t
cry and fold into a ball. Do something
about it. Take advantage of the critical
feedback and constructive advice and build a better presentation of yourself.
Now, just one point here that needs to be emphasized. There’s no singular standard that we each
must strive for. Nor should we expect to change everything where we fall short
of an ideal. But you should acknowledge
room for improvement can be made, and to do your best to be your best. Some changes will come easily and naturally
while others may never come. That’s
okay.
One has to know their limits but such limits shouldn’t be the excuse to allow you to change nothing.
One has to know their limits but such limits shouldn’t be the excuse to allow you to change nothing.
“Good words are worth much and cost little.”
-- George Herbert, Jacula Prudentum (1651)
“How strangely do we diminish a thing as soon as we try to express it in words..”
--Maurice Maeterlinck, ‘Mystic Morality’ The Treasure of the Humble (1896)DON”T MISS THESE!!!
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