Can You Save Your Book?

 

 

Usually, when people take four months with a lame excuse to write me back, I ignore them, but there was something honest and wanting about a note that I recently received from an author. I had written to her after seeing a positive review of her book. I offered to help promote her book.

She told me she did not sell a lot of books. I told her let’s assume the book is very good. So, why so few sales?

I told her this:

You have to assess how well you are doing in each specific area:

* Professional book reviews
* Consumer reviews
* Book awards
* Social media
* Blogging
* Web site
* Media Interviews
* Speaking engagements
* Activity in author associations
* Networking
* Advertising
* Marketing materials
* Press kit
* Branding
* Distribution
* Price
* Genre
* Competition

So, please prove me right: that you are in need and believe I can help you.

I am happy to do this:

Utilize me for several strategic book  marketing consultations, to help you assess what can be done and to provide you with resources, information and ideas on how to do it. This will help you on future books as well.

Just trust in the process.

I have helped authors for three decades— thousands of authors. Search for me online. Pages of stuff pops up. Not one bad thing about me. Not even from my ex-wife or a bully that I punched in the face in the fifth grade.

Here is your choice:

A. Continue with the same, get the same results. Boo.

B. Stop everything and forever give up. Loser.

C. Utilize me to help you. Genius.

Please, no cheating, but the answer is C.

Next step: Belabor this offer, shelve it for a few months, and then feel a wintery mix of failure and angst.

No!!!

Break the cycle. Give me a shot. Give yourself a chance to succeed. You risk just a few bucks. Do it now.

That’s it.

Is this you?

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions 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, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

Book Marketing Hustler Lessons

I caught part of a very good movie on TV the other day, The Wolf of Wall Street. I have already viewed it a few times.  It dramatizes the true story of a Wall Street con man. Margot Robbie plays his wife. He is as genius at manipulating people as she is at being gorgeous. That is how good he was. I got to thinking: How can authors employ his methods — legally — to persuade others to buy their book?

He had charisma, looks, money, and confidence. Those are big plusses. Whereas he sold nothing of substance (pump and dump stocks), he was wildly successful. He got staff people riled up to commit crimes and swindle money out of others.  He became wealthy, but greed — and a drug addiction — did him in.

Still, can we admire the power and abilities of the criminal mind — rogues, con men, swindlers, hustlers, pimps, and playas? Or, are they so toxic, morally bankrupt, and even violent, to the point we fail to appreciate how they seem to get what they want?

We can learn from anyone, from Mother Theresa and The Pope, to Adolph Hitler and Bernie Madoff, about how one influences another. CEOs of a Fortune 500 corporation sometimes act like gangster godfathers. We each need to discover what style of persuasion can work for ourselves — and whether we feel morally up to the task.

Hoaxers simply lie. Anyone can do that. But do you want to? I hope not.  

Bullies simply use force and threats of it. Anyone with a fist or weapon can do that. But do you want to use violence to succeed? I should think not.  

Psychos and cult leaders like to manipulate people through fear, insecurity, and skewed interpretations of reality. Do you want to succeed through psychological warfare? Unlikely.

But there is plenty that one can say or do that is purely legal, ethical, and risky to make money, get what they want, and even sell more books. What are you willing to do?

Authors can win people over by:

* Employing pressure tactics. Make  claims of there being a scarce opportunity that is about to be lost unless acted upon. 

* Utilizing humor. Keep ‘em laughing and you come off as likable. 

* Smiling and being friendly. It never hurts to look happy and come off as someone who could be their friend. 

* Faking sincerity and authenticity. Flattery or sounding like you give a crap goes a long way to winning others over. 

* Becoming their drug or point of escape. Turn your book into an opportunity to get high on a story that takes them away from their troubles. 

* Banking on your good looks. Most women and men like to associate with good-looking, well-dressed, sexualized individuals. Either someone wants to be you — or be with you. 

* Playing into their big-dream pursuits. Help them see how your book pushes them closer to them getting what they want. 

* Asking questions. You just need to have them keep talking about themselves or their opinions.

* Calling upon third-party validation to support your book. Get testimonials, paid book reviews, or book awards to legitimize your book. 

Conclusion: The reason Jordan Belfort, aka The Wolf of Wall Street, made tons of money was simple: He was driven and did not stop when warning signs went up. He just talked people into what they wanted to hear and fed them what they wanted to believe. He played with people’s ego, greed, and fear.  

No author should commit a crime to sell a book, nor behave on a morally bankrupt manner, but there is plenty one can do that will push others to buy your book. You just need to find the right buttons to press. 

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions 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, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

Do Authors Weigh Offers That Could Be Fake?

 

Almost every day, authors will forward to me emails that they receive, wanting to know if it’s a good idea to engage in. Almost all of the time the answer is unequivocally NO.  

I started to realize authors have trouble between distinguishing a legitimate offer from a fraudulent one. They have trouble discerning if something will be helpful to them or if it what was offered would actually take place.   

As one who solicits writers to peddle my professional services in book marketing and publicity, I realize that many writers are wary of people who contact them. Part of the reason is that the Internet is a vibrant playground for scammers, hoaxers, and liars. The other reason is that authors just don’t fully understand what they need or what’s achievable when it comes to marketing their books or getting publishing and film deals.  

The first step when receiving a solicitation, is to see if it has red flags. For instance, the English in the missive is not crisp, suggesting an overseas scam. Perhaps they misspell words, mis-capitalize certain letters, or lack clean syntax.  

Second, does it seem personal, like it was really directed to you? Do they reference your name, your book, or anything about you?  

Third, quickly do a google search for the company name and person who sent the letter. Not only should you look up what they want you to see - you should seek out what they don’t want you to know. Google the person’s name, say John Doe, and add words to it like: John Doe arrested, John doe lawsuit, john Doe liar, John Doe court, and John Doe scam. You’d be amazed at what you dig up.   

Then do the same with the company and add words like bankruptcy, scam, crooks, lawsuit, complaint, violation, or fraud.  

The problem here is that authors have egos and when they hear someone is interested in them, they are fearful of losing an opportunity. They tend to lean towards wanting to believe in people who praise them or show an interest in their book. They lose sight of being rational and sane, and just hear that their book will be on a big screen, or published by a publisher, or promoted in some way that will instantly bring fame and glory.   

A lot of times, it’s bullshit. 

The best way to protect yourself is to:

 

1. Dismiss the email if it fails any of the above tests. 

2. Email them back asking for references and samples of success. 

3. Ask them if any money is needed to pursue their offer, and if so, how much and for what? 

If they still intrigue you, speak with them. Give no personal information - and no financial details. Let them explain how they work. Ask questions. Commit to nothing on the phone. 

Reflect. Think on it. Talk to trusted family and friends to make sure you didn’t miss something. Finally, you must trust your gut. Be willing to take a chance - but only as long as you understand what you are investing in and you identify what any of the risks/rewards may be.  

Most offers will turn out to be bad deals - but not all. Weed out and vet these offers, and you may just find a gem. 

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions 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, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

13 Things Mentally Strong Authors Don’t Do

 

I came across a book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Written by Amy Morin, the international bestseller shares some self-help advice that could be repackaged to inspire authors. I took the liberty of applying her 13 principles to the lives of writers.  

Here you go: 

1. DON'T WASTE TIME FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF

When you suffer a setback over your book — and you will — no pity parties are allowed. You struggle to get a literary agent? A publisher rejects your book? A critic writes a negative book review? So what. Get used to it and get over it. The book world, like life, is a numbers game. Don’t count the defeats — just enjoy the wins. Keep trying. You will break through. 

2. DON'T GIVE AWAY YOUR POWER

You are in charge of yourself. Own it. Have faith in your book and do all that you can to put it on the right path. Don’t let others dictate your path. Set your course — and go! 

3. DON'T SHY AWAY FROM CHANGE

Change will find all of us. People die or move away. Companies go out of business. New technologies replace the old ways. New mores challenge traditions. Go with the flow. Embrace change and have it work to your advantage. Focus on what you gain; not what you lose. 

4. DON'T FOCUS ON THINGS YOU CAN'T CONTROL

From the weather to crazy family or bad genes, you simply can’t invest yourself in things that you can’t dictate. You can, however, control how you respond to such things.  

5. DON'T WORRY ABOUT PLEASING EVERYONE

None of us are anywhere near perfect. Don’t expect it from yourself, don’t demand it from others, and don’t feel you exist only to serve or please others. You live your own life, in accordance with your standards. Be respectful of others but don’t do things just to make another happy while suppressing your needs.  

6. DON'T FEAR TAKING CALCULATED RISKS

No one needs to senselessly expose themselves to danger, but one must be prepared to take some risks. Analyze the potential pay-off of any proposed action. How much potential upside or gain is possible? Probable? Exactly what is being risked and what are the chances of a worst-case scenario happening? Balance the extremes of greed and fear.  

7. DON'T DWELL ON THE PAST

If you were happy or great in the past, that is wonderful. But what have you done lately? Live in the present and prepare for the future. If the past was filled with negatives, there is no reason to relive that. Learn from the past, but don’t feel condemned by it.  

8. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER

It is ok you make mistakes. In fact, the more you experiment or take risks, the chances of screwing up increase. But so do your chances of winning. However, little is gained when we don’t learn from our mistakes.   

9. DON'T RESENT OTHER PEOPLE'S SUCCESS

Jealousy and envy will just eat at you. What one gets is their business. You focus on yourself and position your book for success. Spending time worrying about others is a useless pursuit.  

10. DON'T GIVE UP AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE

You only fail when you give up or never try. All failure is temporary — until you succeed. What do they call a high school dropout who went back to finish? Graduate. And someone who failed four road tests, but passed the fifth time? Licensed driver. Failed the bat twice before passing? Lawyer. Authors will hear no daily. Get used to it. Live for the yesses.   

11. DON'T FEAR ALONE TIME

Let the quiet and calm resurrect clear thinking on your part. Take a reprieve from the bustle and hustle. Shun the noise so that you can heat yourself think.  

12. DON'T FEEL THE WORLD OWES YOU ANYTHING

Great writers may not get published, and even if they do, their books may not sell or receive much recognition. They think they are due some kind of bonus or reward. They are not. Writers deserve what they get and nothing more or less. Writing a great book or getting it published is not enough. Push it to the finish line and market the crap out of it.  

13. DON'T EXPECT IMMEDIATE RESULTS

Building a brand as a writer takes time. The seeds you plant today may bring fruit in three to six months. Maybe a year or two. Network and connect with others always. It will pay off.   

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions 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, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

The Dictionary Has Been Banned!

 

“One school district in Florida is looking to extend the state's book ban to an unexpected genre: dictionaries, reports CBS News. “According to a list obtained and published by the nonprofit PEN America, the Escambia County school district has included five dictionaries, eight encyclopedias and "The Guinness Book of World Records," in its list of more than 1,600 books that could soon be banned.”  

Is there no end to what right-wing book-ban nuts will go to, in their attempts to weed out any idea, sentence, or word that they disagree with?   

I am surprised they didn’t seek to remove the Bible, with its depictions of savage violence, incest, rape, and sexual references. I guess even crazy has its limits.  

I wish I could tell you something that would make sense of things, but I can’t, because I don’t understand it myself. When you have an issue with the dictionary, you have gone off the deep end. The dictionary reflects language, history, and facts. How does one propose to ban or censor such a book? 

Wouldn’t everyone’s time and energy be better spent elsewhere? Can’t we just respect freedom of speech — and trust that our librarians know what is appropriate and needed in our schools? Why is an intellectual purge taking place?   

Before they ban any books, they should spend more time with the dictionary and look up entries for “tolerance” and “free speech”, as well as “fascist” and “dictator.”   

Oh wait, some Florida kids can’t use their library or consult a dictionary. Gee, I wonder if they will turn to the Internet for information and answers? Yeah, nothing can go wrong there, right?

   

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions 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, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.