Audit Your Book Marketing

 

 

Maybe it was the fact that I recently completed the process of filing my taxes for the past year that I was inspired to focus today’s post about the need for authors to conduct an audit of their book marketing. We all need to take a measured accounting of where our writing career and book marketing balance sheet stands, at least periodically.

Every writer should take inventory of their promotional activity and look to see what works, what doesn’t, and what has not yet been tried.

First, identify and reflect on the book marketing efforts that you initiated this past year. What did you do vs pay for? What was the measurable return-on-investment? Make a list of each activity. Calculate, as best you can, the results from such efforts. Use metrics such as book sales, clicks on your site, and number of social media connections. Did you earn more of each, as a result of a specific activity, and if so, how many?

Second, seek to figure out some intangible short-term opportunities or long-term benefits that did or could come as a result of your activity. For instance, you may not have generated a ton of sales from getting a paid review in a certain publication, but maybe it provides third-party validation that inspires other media to interview you or bookstores to have you come and do a talk and book signing.

Third, take a really hard look at what you specifically tried in terms of book marketing. Then compare that to all of the other things you could have done but for one reason or another, you just didn’t get to do. Which things are you willing to try now that you missed before?

Lastly, of the things and activities that you took part in, what could you have done better or differently? Should you give social media a second chance? Can you change your bookstore presentation? Will you improve your ad content or do a better job at blogging?

Audit your book marketing and you will likely uncover a revised book marketing plan and a sense of renewal.

 

 

Please Contact Me For Help

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres.

 

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https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/03/how-do-authors-get-more-book-reviews.html

 

What Should You Do To Promote Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/01/what-should-you-do-to-promote-your-book.html

 

Ask Me Anything About Book Marketing

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2022. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This blog, with over 4,000 posts over the past decade, was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Susan RoAne, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, IBPA, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.