Monday, June 6, 2022

How Can Authors Make Book Sale Connections?

 


Authors have little excuses as to why they can’t network effectively to market and promote their books. A generation ago, networking was done in person, and to a degree, by phone, Nut now, it’s heavy on social media, zoom, and email, in part due to the pandemic and in part because of technology.  

As an author, you have a choice -- network and meet people who can help you -- or do it alone and make it harder on yourself.  

If you choose to network, you have several main routes:

  • In-person
  • Zoom
  • Social Media 
  • E-mail
  • Phone

You don’t have to choose which method to employ. Use them all if necessary.  

The idea behind networking is that you meet people who will buy books, help you sell books, or introduce you to those who may be able to help you sell books. You need to meet readers, members of the media, bookstore managers, librarians, and all kinds of people who could buy or sell your book.   

Networking involves a few key ingredients:

  • You need to actively do it often and consistently.
  • Set goals of who or what types of people you want to meet. 
  • Find out where such people congregate or exist.
  • Boldly reach out to people and seek to offer something, if not yourself, that could be of service to them.
  • Be a good researcher, listener, and friend to them.
  • Stay in touch with your network periodically, and offer your help instead of always asking for something. 

Yes, I get it, there are many hang-ups people have about networking, such as:

 

  • What do I say?
  • How do I approach people?
  • How do I become memorable or seen as interesting?
  • What if I am shy and not self-confident?
  • How do I break into a group?
  • Can I do small talk well?
  • What if I feel intimidated?
  • How do I remember their name or things about them?

 

Not everything has a pre-set answer that all will embrace. Give yourself a chance, here you have nothing to lose. Try to make some connections and see how it goes. Learn what works -- or doesn’t for you. In time, you’ll develop a style or pattern of networking that configures to your personality.   

What Could Help You Network?

 

  • Have your tools ready: business card, website, elevator speech.
  • Be ready to smile, laugh, and give firm handshakes.
  • Research the kinds of people you want to meet and understand their needs and desires.
  • Relax and stay focused.
  • Just be yourself.
  • Come at things with an attitude of serving others first.
  • Make a schedule of activities for the week:

--How many social media posts on which platforms will you make?

--How many emails will you send?

--How many phone calls to follow up with people?

--Which events will you attend?

--How much time will you research things?

Some other good tips for networking include:

 

  • Be on the hunt --= no reason to wait to be approached.
  • Make eye-contact and listen carefully.
  • Acknowledge what others say; praise them. 
  • Don’t overeat or drink too much at an in-person event. 
  • Stay off your cellphone while networking.
  • Sound enthusiastic, passionate, and curious.
  • Be polite and courteous, but don’t sit back submissively
  • Dress for success.
  • Avoid controversial topics -- sex, politics, religion -- to escape disagreement. 

Savvy socializing happens when you make a favorable impression of another while simultaneously ascertaining how they may be able to help you. The best exchanges tend to happen when we:

 

  • Show authoritative knowledge
  • Sound like we’re experts with connections
  • Share views they agree with
  • Sound friendly and approachable
  • Laugh, smile, tell jokes, or make witty comments
  • Tell good stories. 

The best networking happens when two people feel they meet someone who is compatible- where they can offer each other something and seem like they could be our friends. We’re drawn to others who like us -- and whom we feel are interesting, powerful, resourceful, and even good-looking. Though you are not necessarily networking to find a spouse, we naturally are drawn to those we find attractive.  

The best source of ideas, encouragement, and resources for networking come from Susan RoAne, a best-selling author and authority on how to make lasting connections. I promoted her book How To Work A Room, over 30 years ago. She has since updated the book. It stands as the bible for networking. 

Go out there and network your way to book sales.  

 

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.

 

Catch Up & Read These !!

Why Authors Need The Momentum Of A Yes

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/05/why-authors-need-momentum-of-win.html

 

Getting Others To Buy -- Or Help You Sell -- Books

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/05/getting-others-to-buy-or-sell-your-book.html

 

Will You Sell More Than 200 Copies Of Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/05/will-you-sell-more-than-200-copies-of.html

 

Why Bad Books Outsell Yours

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/05/why-bad-books-outsell-yours.html

 

How Can You Grow Your Writing Career?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/05/how-can-you-grow-your-writing-career.html

 

Audit Your Book Marketing

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/audit-your-book-marketing.html

 

How Do Authors Solve Their Problems?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/05/how-do-authors-solve-their-problems.html

 

Do You Have A Good Author Tagline?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/do-you-have-good-author-tagline.html

 

The Truth That Authors Need To Hear

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-truth-that-authors-need-to-hear.html

 

Book Publishing Expose For Authors From An Insider

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/book-publishing-expose-for-authors-from.html

 

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. 

 

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