According to Grant Cardone, author of If You’re Not First, You’re Last, the quality of your book is meaningless if no one knows the product exist. Today, Cardone says, we must utilize social media, blogging and then inspire existing clients, friends and those that could benefit from getting our books sold.
Here are five tips from Cardone that can help you make your nonfiction book a bestseller:
- Go where bloggers go and write as many articles as you can about the topic of your book.
- Survey other authors about what they have done successfully in hopes that you can get them to review, comment or involved with your book’s release.
- Consider joint ventures where others promoting your book may benefit them.
- Build your platform that you are going to sell the book to. Publishing companies want to see that you have a way of selling this book.
- Build your social media and start talking about the books and then hammer it to levels others would consider unreasonable!
When all’s said and done — and after reading Cardone’s words, remember this: Creating a bestselling book involves wearing both a writer’s hat and a businessperson’s hat. What made Cardone and his book successful was his willingness to apply business principles to selling his book. He got out there and promoted the heck out of his book. He looked for joint ventures. He built his platform. He used social networking to the max. Are you willing to do that? If so, you, too, can create a bestselling nonfiction book.
I love anything and everything related to food (growing food, eating food, learning about food)....I think you would LOVE my sister's book (1st place winner of 2012 Gourmand Magazine award in the Fund Raising, Charity and Community division for a USA
If you keep rereading the last chapter, you will never get to the next one..get on with your life.
Do not hide your light so that others won't feel insecure around you. And as you let your light shine, you unconsciously give others the right to do the same.
Organic coconut oil. I was introduced to it by a VN sister a while back. It makes my skin SO smooth and it is great for my thick, curly hair! It has a hundred uses (just look it up online) and it costs so little.
This sort of scheme is good for non-fiction I’m sure but how could it help fiction?
Hi LilTigg. I saw your question for Nina and thought you might be interested in this post from VN member (and fiction author) Laurie Channer: Top 5 ways to promote your book.
This is not a “scheme.” This is good book promotion. Fiction writers often fail to promote their books in this way, but it can be done. I agree that it can be more difficult. For one, fiction writers can use all the social networking tools to connect with their readers. They can talk to them about subjects related to thier books–about writing, about characters, about topics covered in their novels, etc. They can blog about similar issues. Ask yourself what your readers learn from your novel. Then look for bloggers writing on these topics. Write for them; ask to be interviewed by them. Get interviewed on these topics. In all these ways, you build your platform, which helps you sell books.
Not to write on LilTigg’s behalf, but I took her definition of “scheme” in this instance as meaning a system or process, which is what you presented to us.
Thank you for posting the Cardone information and link.
Be happy.
You are welcome. In today’s publishing world, no matter if you self-publish or traditinally publish, publish fiction or nonfiction, you must build platform and promote our book. It’s a fact of life. Too many author’s and aspiring writers don’t want t do this.
For more information visit my writing blogs: Write Nonfiction NOW! and How to Blog a Book. Plus, you’ll find tons of information here.
By the way, I disagree with Laurie Channer; while you dont’ have to purchas the domain name for your blog, it’s highly recommended. It’s best to host your blog, and for that you do need the domain name. And, as I found out recently, it’s easier and less expensive to begin blogging with a hosted blog than to convert your free blogs to hosted ones later.
Been there, done that. What makes you think I need instruction? My agent takes very good care of my career.
Be happy.
NinaAmir I had to return here to soften my response to you, I didn’t mean to sound so indignant but it annoys me when people make assumptions about strangers. You know how sensitive we writers can be.
Be happy.
Yakkity1, Not every writer has an agent. Plus, not all agents are good agents. Despite having an agent, all writers must continue promoting themselves and their writing.
I make no assumptions about any writers. I write posts for “generic” aspiring writers and authors. If the information doesn’t pertain to you, so be it.
Thanks for your comments. Happy writing and much success to you wtih your agent.
O.K. I’m taking your advise, and touting my book. I have a new mystery, THE SCORPION’S BITE, part of the Lily Sampson Series. The book is coming out next week from Poisoned Pen Press. In THE SCORPION’S BITE, Lily is doing an archaeological survey of Trans-Jordan for the OSS. Check out my web site, http://www.aileengbaron.com.
Good for you, Aileen, but this is not the type of promotion we have been talking about. This is what would be called spamming. The type of promotion I’m talking about takes getting involved in a conversation and naturally bringing up your book because it makes sense…because some is talking about archological surveys or the OSS. Does that make sense?
Congratulations, Aileen, on your two new releases this month. I’ll be pre-ordering The Gold Of Thrace and I am looking forward to reading your earlier works. Admittedly I’m not a big fiction fan but I do appreciate well-written suspense novels, and from what I’ve read on your website, I’m in for some good diversionary summertime reading.
Be happy.
I have written Sanctuary of the Soul (poems of anguish, healing, hope, comfort and celebration), and have a website: http://www.soulpoetry.org and business cards….my endorsements amaze me: Elie Wiesel, Wayne Dyer, Nikki Giovanni, Drs. Larry Dossey, Ellen Langer, Alice Miller (recently deceased), Oriah….14 in all.
I am working like a “Trojan” to market it; will do a blog as soon as I figure that out. Signed up for a booth at the Festival in my town, where over 75,000 people come from all over the U.S. I know that marketing is the key, and I am reading and getting myself out there….I think therapists’ offices are the niche and am writing to tons of them in my State.
Any suggestions or ideas welcomed! wacalice@aol.com
Thankyou!
Have you tried radio? With those endorsements, think big? Do you have a little money? Try Annie Jennings for a radio campaign. Tell her I sent you.
Try ezine article marketing with a poem in the article.
Definitely blogging…
Comment on blogs.
Ask those who endorsed it if they would put it out on their lists or in their newsletters…or tweet it.
I do coaching…so do others more knowledgeable.
It just takes a lot of work…about 85 percent of your day every day.
Congrats and keep up the good work.
Your endorsements truly are amazing, Alicia, and well deserved. Like attracts like, as they say. I enjoyed reading on your website, are you able to set-up a blog there or would you prefer one separate from your site? I’d love to read your memoir.
Congratulations and I wish you much success with Sanctuary of the Soul; it deserves its own discussion thread on VN. Many of the women here are poets who would love to converse with you and offer advice.
Be happy.
Oh, thank you so kindly Nina and Yakkity!! I have to figure out how to do a Blog (my 14 year old grandson is a techie genius), LOL……I have been on 2 radio stations, but it was to speak about one of my passions….verbal abuse, since it affects 1 in 3 women on the planet. I now have to contact the stations again. The local library didn’t want to promote my book, so onward and upward. i am joining the Chamber of Commerce…..tons of resources there. Not much money, but a drive that never quits, LOl, LOL My memoir (Ghost Child to Triumph) is next on my agenda…..that and taking my next class at the University. Hugs n Love
Consider joiining the National Association on Memoir Writers. Tell Linda Joy I sent you. I just published a series of articles related to memoir on my blog, Write Nonfiction Now! after being on a teleseminar at NAMW.
Thank you so much, Nina….I will do that. I am a member of the NABBW, also (National Association of Baby Boomer Women), and my memoir was edited by a member; now on to pitching it as soon as I have someone make the changes (I can’t bear to go thru it one more time).
My editor said she liked my army stories best. I was a member of the Women’s Army Corps and stationed in San Francisco at the height of the Vietnam War, hippies, peace, love, etc…..while I……was a girl from a small town in Maine, and had never even seen a person of another race.
Be sure your editor was a professional editor. Someone who just thinks they can edit won’t be good enough to help you land an agent. If you need assistance, I have a staff of qualified editors. Do you have a proposal? That’s what you need to start pitching it to agents and publishers. I can help you with that, too, if you need help. Check out my website for details or give me a call. All the info is at CopyWright Communications. Good luck! Your story sounds very interesting.
As an author whose book became a Best Seller on Amazon, I wholeheartedly agree with you about the fact that too little time is spent on promotion. I say writing the book is the EASY PART–marketing your book is the real challenge. One area you did not cover is the Speaker’s platform and how you can use it to increase book sales.
That’s a huge topic and very important. Look for some upcoming posts. Congrats on your success.