Shouldn’t This Be Every Writer’s Resolution?

 

Authors, for the new year, make yourselves a resolution: To honestly assess your book and its chances of success. Then, figure out what is needed — and do it!

That’s right, I want you to drift out of your dreamy haze of lofty expectations, and start to ascend up the ladder of reality. Have hope, but ground yourself in facts. Unwrap the fiction of your life.

Please answer each of these questions and then look at the results. Take action. No whimpering, whining, or whacking the messenger. Discover your truth and do something about it. Now is the time to close the gap of disconnection between reality and fantasy.

Is your book unpublished because no one recognizes your genius — or is it because something on your end is lacking? Fix it.

Is your published book not selling because consumers are stupid — or is it because your marketing is weak? Fix it.

Sure, life may not be fair, and some have to work a lot harder or longer than most, but success is possible.

Ok, time to quiz yourself:

1. You think you wrote something great, but is the font, typeface, and layout of your book readable and inviting?

2. You believe your book is truly great, but is it? What informs your assessment?

3. You believe your book is as good as most others. But is it any better than many of them?

4. Let’s say your book is written well, but is it any or all of these: informative, entertaining, enlightening, inspiring?

5. Your book may be very good but is the cover reflective of that?

6. Your book and its cover can be quite good, but is the title memorable or even easy to say?

7. Your book can be well-written, with a terrific cover, and a catchy title, but is it priced to sell?

8. Your content, cover, packaging, and price sparkle, but is it offered in the preferred formats of all readers, available from as many choice formats as possible: trade paperback, e-book, hard cover, audio, and gift edition?

9. Perhaps your book is a treasure, well-packaged, and retailing at a low price, but is it easy to purchase and available where people prefer to do their shopping?

10. Let’s say you mastered one through nine above, do you have a good marketing plan?

11. If you own a strategic book marketing plan, are you executing it? If not you, have you hired others to help?

12. If you and/or your hired help fall short in generating book sales, have you stepped back to re-asses and change tactics, expand activities, increase efforts, and/or change personnel?

Now, if you went through all dozen steps and still fall far short of what you hoped for your book, it either means you got a raw deal or that the public has spoken. In either case, move on to the next book and repeat the process. Never give up, but never dream without taking action, and never forget your book is only as good as others say it is – if they even know it exists.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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

This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as director of publicity 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.

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, 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. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

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.

 

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

What Is The Reading Experience Today?

  

If books give your life a measure of meaning, knowledge, and satisfaction, do you believe the books chose you or that you chose them? Did the book give you all that you feel you received - or was it your perception and interpretation of what you gained by the reading experience?  

When you reread a book, after a long time between readings, does it make a completely different impression on you than it did when you first consumed it? The book has not changed, but you have, and so has your power to interpret, feel, think, and see. You may love it even more -- or you may decide it no longer rings as true to you as it once did.   

Are the days over where people read the classics, however, a classic is defined? Are so many people reading different books that few books can bring us together in thought, feeling, or deed? I mean, if the new generation is not reading Dickens, Poe, Plato, or Orwell, then what is binding our readers? How do we ensure we all get to read about all that life and death offers, from love and nature, to family and friendships, to ethics and the meaning of life?  

The reading experience of books today may be a fragmented and scattered one. There are simply too many choices and options available. Think about it. In one year, several million new books are put out in America. Only 35 years ago it was not even a fiftieth of that. Yes, you have 50 times the choice of books from what came out this year vs 1989’s offerings. And you have tens of millions of books that were published in just the past few decades, many of which are forever available thanks to digital books and print-on-demand technology.   

If books present ideas, truths, and experiences, and if every reader of a book is exposed to what that book offers, how do we account for so many readers choosing to read so many different books?  

There are many genres and sub-genres as well. If one reads erotica but not thrillers, or one enjoys poetry but not graphic novels, are we on the same page at all? Or, if you read business but not history, or self-help but not political books, are we on the same page? If we don’t have identical experiences (same book) or even identical genre experiences, can we even fully see life the same or understand one another? Is this even necessary?  

We do have a wide diversity of life experiences, as well as book reading choices, and that’s fine. But, we need a core of some books to be digested by everyone so that, at a minimum, we share a foundation of information that can inform the rest of what we do.   

Some might say we all need to read the Bible, or the Bill of Rights, and U.S. Constitution. This may also extend into classics, from Romeo and Juliet to 1984 to Lord of The Flies, and to others. Diversity of experience is wonderful, including one’s reading experiences, but we must find common ground and overlap in some experiences and books in order to agree upon the values we should live by and some to expect from others.   

I would be for the creation of a recommended national book reading list that all citizens and school-age children get to read. It can have flexibility of choice built into it -- and it can be altered over time - but we need to start somewhere.  

To have a less fractured nation, reading the same books and reading more books seems like a good place to start. Nothing bad will happen if we read Hamlet, A Tale of Two Cities, Frankenstein, and Invisible Man. In fact, only something good will come of this.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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, BookCAMP, 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.

 

Are You a Good Literary Citizen?

  

A good literary citizen is one who deeply cares about books and their future. They appreciate the history of books and admire authors who invest, time, money, heart, and soul to create something special. Good literary citizens become guardians of the written word, language, and literacy, and free speech. They are special people with good hearts, here to enjoy books and also to ensure the rest of the world does too. You can be a guest literary citizen, and maybe you already are.   

As a good literary citizen, you might do any of the following:

 

• Donate books.

• Mentor or advise other writers.

• Treat books fairly and respectfully when reviewing them.

• Write about meaningful things in a sincere way. 

• Support the book ecosystem of publishers, authors, libraries, bookstores, and those who work in the industry, from printers, marketing companies, literary agencies, etc. 

• Encourage others to read books.

• Lobby local, state, and federal governments to financially support the literary arts.

• Raise funds for the book world.

• Speak up for free speech.

• Protest book bans and censorship.

• Attend book signings, book fairs, publishing conferences, and writer workshops, in order to stay informed and involved.

• Be a literary mentor and donate to the cause.

• Write books that need to be published and serve a need or a community. 

• Be an authentic writer who lives to make your craft better and for your craft to better the world. 

• Where possible, buy printed books from bookstores, and not just order them online. Seek out print over digital or audio, more often than not.

• Just as you discuss shows that are streaming or what’s in the news, discuss the books you have read 

• Let people know what books mean to you - and how they can enhance or change another’s life. 

• Read the books that you buy or get as a gift -- don’t just display them on your shelf of shame. 

• Don’t give birth (write) to a book unless you truly feel it’s better than or different from what’s already out there. Set a standard or litmus test that you need to meet before you saturate the market.

• Re-read books to see if your appreciation for, and understanding of it, has changed.

• Encourage others to form or join a book club.

• Give books as gifts to others.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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, BookCAMP, 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 Seven Deadly Sins Of Marketing A Book!

 

 

The Bible says there are seven deadly sins. They are envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath. In the world of book marketing, there are also seven deadly sins. Here they are: 

 

1. Ignorance 

To not be aware of what needs to be done to market your book successfully is not a valid, long-term excuse as to why your book is not marketed well. Learn, experiment, and seek out professional help. Knowledge is power. 

 

2.                  Laziness

You may know what to do but lack initiative, energy, and drive. This is not acceptable. Get off the couch, or sit there, and hire others to do what you need to do. 

 

3.                  Envy

Authors naturally look at other authors and are jealous of their success. No need to be envious. Go out there and promote your book. The few authors that you wish you were like are anomalies. Many authors do not have success. Keep things in proportion.

 

4.                  Ego

You may think you are a great writer, and maybe you are, but no one knows that unless you work as hard to market your book as you did to write it. Curb your ego and pull up your sleeves to do the heavy book marketing lifting. 

 

5.                  Time

We all live busy lives and have all kinds of obligations, needs, and chores, but time must be carved out to market your book. Make it a priority. Think about frequency and duration. Can you promote daily or every other day? How much time can you do on each day? Hold yourself accountable for your calendar and schedule. 

 

6.                  Money

Have a budget to promote your book. Neither mortgage the house nor go cheap. Be reasonable and fair to yourself. Give your book a chance to succeed. You will need between five and ten thousand dollars to initiate a decent marketing campaign. 

 

7.                  Skills

Not only do you need to know what needs to be done, but you must develop the abilities to implement them. Take some time to learn how to do things that will help you be better at marketing your book.

 

A bonus sin might be a lack of confidence. It’s natural to feel fear, insecurity, or incompetence when it comes to doing something new, something that puts you in the public spotlight, but nothing worth doing is ever absent a little fear. Use that nervous energy not to suppress yourself, but to take the initiative to step forward into the unknown and believe in your book and in who you are. You can do this!

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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, BookCAMP, 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.

 

Should A Killer’s Best-Selling Book Be Banned?

 

 

When the shocking assassination on the streets of New York City of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson splashed across our screens, many wondered of the killer’s identity and speculated on his motive. It turns out the suspect, Luigi Mangione, may have been inspired by the published writings of a domestic terrorist, calling into question: Should such books be banned or even published?

Unabomber Ted Kaczynski had his ramblings published in a book, Industrial Society and Its Future. That book is a best-seller on Amazon as we speak. It is No. 1 in each of these categories: terrorism, anarchism, and radical political thought. I guess “crazy mothafu@@er” is not a category yet, or it would own that spot as well.  

Could this book could be sparking new killers and giving intellectual stimulation to the unhinged, angry, and downtrodden? Perhaps. But I don’t think its sale should be restricted in any way.  

Free speech trumps all, even if it means someone could die as a result. Well, in reality, a book does not pull a trigger anymore than playing violent video games or watching horror movies would. Are we going to ban everything? Our information and entertainment reflect our world, but they don’t necessarily create it.  

Words don’t kill. Life does.  

Maybe society, circumstances, upbringing, DNA, a series of unrelated events, or even a confluence of factors have cocktailed into turning one of America’s most promising young men into one of America’s Most Wanted.  

Still, there is no denying the power of books. This guy used language similarly found in the Unabomber’s manifesto in a letter found in his backpack when he was arrested. 

Can we remove all books that may inspire, inform, or nurture the ideology, intentions, and actions of a deranged person? 

Of course not.  

Killers can distort even a Disney movie to justify their actions. It is unlikely that this guy was normal and happy, then accidentally read another killer’s screed, and suddenly decided to just blow someone away. No, it is likely other events and people in his life — or a mental disease — led him to do this. The words on a page did not solely instruct him to act; they were merely mirroring what was already inside of him.  At least that is my speculation or take on things. 

Put the book question aside for a moment. This case simply has a lot of fascinating subplots.

Who saw this coming: A kid from a wealthy family of multi-generational entrepreneurs, one who graduated valedictorian from a prestigious private school and accelerated to earn an undergrad degree and a Master’s at an Ivy League college in just four years, would be the subject of an FBI manhunt for premeditated murder of someone he presumably never met?

Questions about how someone can just 3-D print a deadly weapon are disturbing, us, too.   

Just what is it that drove a good-looking, bright, young man to kill? Was it mental illness, a personal vendetta, or was he a social justice warrior? It was not a book all by itself that caused this.  

But let’s say that in a few, rare cases, strong evidence can be presented to prosecute books as being the main reason, or at least serving as a significant enabling factor, for one acting violently. What is the next step? Book bans? Censorship? Deny publication of a book?  

Slow down. Remember the First Amendment.  

The thing with book bans is this:  Who decides what gets banned or published? By what standards? Where do you draw the line?  

Ideas are everywhere — in our novels and streamed entertainment, in our political rhetoric, and worst of all, on full display on the biggest playground for anarchy, bullying, and aggression, open 24/7 without a referee: social media. We can’t — and should not — bar the free exchange of ideas, thoughts, facts, or fantasies. But we should look to fix the world’s ills, get people mental health help, and simply acknowledge that the world can be cruel and unfair at times.   

What we need to do is not blame the poet for the world he writes about; instead, repair the world. The messenger’s message is not the problem; whatever inspired the message is the problem.  

Ironically, the arrest of Mangione came within hours of the acquittal of a man on trial for killing another man in NYC. We can applaud that.  

Daniel Penny, a former Marine, stepped in to save a subway train of passengers when a homeless, schizophrenic, drug-high guy starts threatening everyone and saying they will die. Penny put a chokehold on Jordan Neely, trying to prevent a mass casualty event.  

Unfortunately, the deranged menace died from the incident. This jury got it right. Acquittal! An act of a Good Samaritan turned into a court case. This guy is a hero, stepping up to defend the innocent and volatile. Neely did not intend to kill him, just to restrain and hold him until the authorities showed up.  

That violence was justifiable, but the so-called vigilante murder of the CEO is not. 

What is more disturbing than the CEO killing is how some people are reacting to it publicly. More than a few have cheered on the killing of the health insurance CEO, as if he is the kingpin of a drug cartel.  

After all, defenders shout, this guy took home more than 10 million dollars a year. It is blood money they say, for he was enriched by denying healthcare claims to those in need, which led to the unnecessary suffering, disability, death, and/or bankruptcy of lots of sick people. Ok, so we all can understand the healthcare and insurance industries need reform, but let’s not cheer on a killer. Seeing a lunatic gunman as a savior, the leader of a distorted hero’s movement, is far, far more dangerous than any madman’s scribblings. 

Ok, back to books, even those by a killer. All book bans are wrong and bad.  Free speech is everything to us. I would even kill for that right. And then you can buy my published manifesto. 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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, BookCAMP, 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.

 

How Do Authors Convince Others To Buy Their Books?

 

Authors have many tools available to then sell their books, from speaking at bookstores and book fairs, to posting strategically on social media and securing book reviews. They can use advertising, book awards, and podcasting to get the word out. But whichever option is utilized, the success of the sales proposition will likely fall upon an author’s ability to communicate persuasively.   

A boring interview or an ad that lacks a call-t0-action are unlikely, to inspire a book sale. What an author says - and how they say it -- matters. The words you used to motivate another to want to read your book mean everything. So, what’s the key to good sales speak? 

1. Speak in benefits of three.

For instance, your book will make someone laugh, cry, and think. Or, perhaps it will confront our desire to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Maybe it will tackle wars, terrorism, and crime, or it will show us how to again have a relationship of love, passion, and honesty.  

2. Utilize metaphors, analogies, and similies.

Making comparisons or giving imagery to make a quick point works wonders, just make sure that you use a comparable scale of comparison.  

3. Make it about a clear choice 

Good vs evil; love vs hate; death or life. Use the extremes to make your point. Your book must stand for something - and as a result, be against something. Appeal to a person’s vision of the world and couch your story to fit their scenario of things.  

4. Tap into an emotion

Tears, fears, pain, anxiety - all-powerful. So is anger, revenge, lust, and greed. State things that will invigorate an emotional or psychological response from others.  

5. Ask a rhetorical question

Asking questions can invite people into a conversation and stating a predictable answer in a question will get people to listen up. 

6. Inject humor

Even with a serious topic, levity can lighten things up. Telling jokes or looking to make others laugh creates a feel-good, jovial atmosphere that may ripen one up to buy a book.  

7. Delve into conflicts, paradoxes, contrasts, and enigmas 

This gets people’s attention. Be a contrarian or fight for the underdog. Explore viewpoints that others don’t. See all sides to things.  

8. Promise tangible benefits

If your book solves a problem or entertains or enlightens or inspires or informs, state that benefit. People buy things that make them feel good, serve a need, fulfill a desire, solve a problem, or move them to see things in a new light.  

9. Tap into pop-culture trends 

Comment on what’s in the news or what’s popular. There are reference points that most people will have familiarity with. This helps you speak the way people already think. 

10. Play on a cliché

Cliches exist for a reason. Some have truth to them. People are familiar with them, so grounding yourself in what people already like or accept gets them to be agreeable.  

11. Call upon an anniversary, holiday or honorary day

Tie your message into things people know about. Check out www.brownielocks.com 

12. Inspire or motivate

People are drawn to strength and to people who help us become our best selves. Share encouraging words of wisdom and speak with passion, positivity, and words of action.  

13. Shock and be so other 

Surprises, outrageous statements, or an exploration into cultures, industries, or hobbies that are so unfamiliar or unique will also excite people. Use curiosity to your advantage. 

14. Attack an institution, person, or idea

The world is full of good people; and bad people, right from wrong, love vs hate. Tap into the world of extremes. Find a villain that’s easy to attack. Criticize a popular idea. Demonize despicable people. Rally others to see you are one of them.  

Essential, be interesting, relevant, timely, and sound authentic. You must win over some readers. Use your words and you will find your fan base. 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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, BookCAMP, 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.