On Marketing: Post Number Ten

Speaking at Conferences, Niche Audiences, and the Like

I’ve saved this venue of marketing until last because, for me, it’s been the most effective and profitable way of marketing my books. Why? There are several reasons:

1. When I’m invited to speak, the inviting party usually pays for, at least, travel expenses. I don’t have to put my own money up front. Most of the time, I also receive a speaking honorarium as well.
2. For some reason, authors are held in high regard in our society. People want to “get close to” authors and sometimes treat them like celebrities (even though you might be a no-name), so they will buy your book to take a piece of you home with them!
It has been calculated that, when you speak, you can usually sell to at least a quarter of your audience. So, when I stand before a crowd, I usually have favorable sales. I’ve always had the opportunity to display my books on a table and sell before and after my spiel. I remember one time, I spoke on a Saturday at a ladies’ seminar in a New York town that hosted about 250 attendees. I took 50 of my Bible study guides with me and could have sold more (besides the first two books in the Keystone Stables series.)

So, if you haven’t developed a platform for yourself yet, spend some time thinking about that. If you’ve had a book published, then you can be considered an “expert” about something you’ve written. Speaking engagements WILL sell your books. You just need to get your name out there and go for it.

And what kind of speaking engagements are most profitable? Here is the list that has helped me become a best-selling author:
1. Writers conferences – other writers want to read what has brought you your measure of success.
2. Church events, i.e. ladies’ days, children’s Sunday schools, Mother/Daughter banquets, homeschool gatherings – of course, with my Bible study guide, homeschool book, and K.Stables books, these groups are my niche.
3. Schools and niche audience clubs, i.e. riding academies
4. Community organizations, i.e. Senior Citizens clubs
5. Bookstores (I’ve already addressed this issue. Make sure you are there on a BIG sales day of an authors’ fest day when a group of authors are invited) Sometimes, the manager will want you to do a reading. That helps draw an audience.
6. Radio and TV interviews (I’ve not been fortunate enough to do any TV)

And one last note about speaking. With the explosion in technology, I’ve converted all my “speeches” to colorful, graphics-active Power Points, and the audiences love them. It’s the most entertaining way to keep everyone focused on your books and you, and you can have a good time doing it, as well.

Well there you have my marketing heart in a huge nutshell.We’ve discussed 10 different venues for marketing your book over the last few weeks. Analyze your niche audience, plan a strategy to sell books, and hit the road, Jack.

Marsha Hubler
Best-selling Author of the Keystone Stables books
(Web) www.marshahublerauthor.com
(Writers Tips)
www.marshahubler.wordpress.com
(Writers Conference Information)
www.montrosebible.org
(Horse Facts Blog)
www.horsefactsbymarshahubler.wordpress.com

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On Writing: Marketing Post Number Nine

What About Self Publishing?

(No matter which way you go, you’ve got to SELL, SELL, SELL yourself and your book.)

These days, there’s a lot to be said about self publishing your own book. In fact, most of the writer friends I know have gone this route because of the difficulty, and LONG process, of being accepted and published by a royalty (paying) company.

There are several ways to go with this venue, and all involve YOUR OWN money up front, but if you want to see your name in print, it’s the only option you might have. You’ll have a choice of hard or soft cover, the number of pages, color or B/W photos, and the layout of the entire book. Here are some of your choices:

1. Go to an inexpensive “print shop” that will print exactly what you put on the CD and give them. But here’s a warning! Be sharp on your own editing and revising because there will be none from the print shop. If you spell “Mnoday” wrong in your manuscript, that’s what will be in your final product. Yes, the process is relatively cheap compared to other self publishing options, but you better be pretty darned good with your PUGS (punctuation, usage, grammar, spelling), or you might be embarrassed when you get your book in print and discover that your title is spelled wrong. (I actually have seen a self published book with an apostrophe used incorrectly in the title. Zowie!)
2. Hire an independent editor/”publisher,” usually one person who’s experienced in getting you your ISBN, designing the book cover, and placing your book on Amazon and a few other sites. The cost is minimal compared to what a “Vanity Press” company would charge you. Just be careful who you hire. Get references and take a look at the books the person has already “published” for other authors. Take a look at my Loves of Snyder County trilogy. They were “published” by an independent editor/publisher, Sue Fairchild, and she did an excellent job.
3. Submit your manuscript to the latest craze in self publishing: “partnership” publishing, which is becoming a very popular way to publish with struggling smaller royalty companies. If you enter into a contract with this type of company, it will give you no money up front, BUT it won’t ask you for any money up front either. The company will provide editors to perfect your manuscript, and when the final product comes out, the company will also help to promote it by posting it on numerous websites, review sites, and markets like Amazon. Check out THE SECRET OF WOLF CANYON on my website www.marshahublerauthor.com for this final product. (The publishing company that did this book became a “partnership” company right after they finished my project. I was the last book they published where the author had to put his/her money up front. Gosh and gee whiz, what an honor!)

Now, if you decide that you no longer have the patience to wait for a royalty company to come knocking on your door and you do have the capital to proceed, then go for it. Just decide which way you want to go. And one other small but important detail: make sure you get an ISBN number installed on the back cover. Some print shops or publishing companies will NOT provide this and you must apply and pay for the number yourself. Other companies WILL do that work for you (for a fee). If you plan to try to market your book anywhere in stores or on eBay, you must have the ISBN, or your book cannot be sold through these venues.

Happy publishing! (Next time: Marketing Through Speaking Engagements)

Marsha Hubler
Best-selling Author of the Keystone Stables books
(Web) www.marshahublerauthor.com
(Writers Tips)
www.marshahubler.wordpress.com
(Writers Conference Information)
www.montrosebible.org
(Horse Facts Blog)
www.horsefactsbymarshahubler.wordpress.com

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