Francine Craft

Purple Passion

Maybe you know by now that the big-boy brick and mortar bookstores like Barnes and Noble and Borders won’t carry your self-published book.  That’s because they’re dependent on major publishers, so it’s understandable.  But all online bookstores will carry you, including those named.  It’s up to you to see that you put out a well written, well edited and well proofed product.

And now to market!  Bring your adrenaline up?  It should, because this is another of the most important things you can do for yourself.  Earlier, I spoke of making friends with librarians.  This is a lifetime thing, you know.  And next door to it is contacting independent bookstores.  They’re still out there and many of them are hungry for good books you’ll help them sell as a partner.

If you like talking on the phone, begin with google and make yourself a list of independent bookstores in your area and in nearby cities.  Get the numbers and call.  Make it friendly, respectful, tell what your book is about and why they should be interested.  Don’t forget to stress that you’ll do your part in selling your book.

If you dislike talking on the phone or are just not good at it, and even if you do phone, also send them a well put together flyer with your book jacket cover photo, your photo, a brief description of what the book is about and why it will sell.  Give discount and return info.  If you have a Library of Congress Control Number, give it, and your ISBN. 

Tall order?  Not once you get into it.  You should be carried along by sheer love and if you’re anxious, that’s part of it.  Don’t strive for perfection.  Just be passionate, take care, and do your very best.  Never demand more than that from your precious self.

Next time:  Book Clubs

Filed under: Publishing by Francine Craft | Social tagging: book covers > good information > great flyers > independent bookstores > labor of love > self-publishing
No Comments »

Well Balanced

Marketing is more than a notion.  Done right, it can yield thrilling results without stripping your budget.  Done wrong, it can make you weep while you wonder where the money went.  Right off the bat, make up your mind to use a hands-on approach no matter what gurus you use.  It’s your baby and you’re the one to handle the basic care.

I’ve found where marketing books is concerned, your best bet is to personally get acquainted with the librarians in your town or city.  Take a well written flyer with a photo of your cover, your author bio and what benefits come from ordering your book.  See that you give maximum discounts, and, of course, see that returns are accepted.  If you don’t do all this, you’re likely to find few takers.

This is the place to talk up your book, but don’t overdo.  Librarians are friendly, helpful people, by and large.  They want the best for their readers.  And whatever you do, don’t badmouth other authors or other people.  It will backfire every time. 

Even before you visit, make a phone call to find out who buys books for the library.  Buying books for the New York City libraries is going to be a different ballgame from buying for Smalltown, MS.  If the person you get isn’t knowledgeable, ask if they will suggest someone who can best help.  And once you get that person, be polite, don’t chatter, have your short questions written down.  And please do listen to what the librarian has to say.  You may be surprised at how helpful he or she can be.

Next blog:  Marketing to Independent Bookstores

Filed under: Publishing by Francine Craft | Social tagging: be a good listener > be on your Ps&Qs > book buyers for libraries > libraries > Marketing > politeness > questions to ask > what to offer
No Comments »

Going Green

You’ll note my heading does not begin with the words self-publishing.  That’s because this blog is as much for writers being published by regular publishers.  If you’re not studying marketing and the ways it’s done nowadays, stop and wonder if you’re serious about what you’re doing.

The average self-published novel sells around 400 copies.  A listing on a mystery writing lineup featuring publishers who are open to mystery acquisitions states that they sell about 2,000 copies.  That was when the economy was neither booming nor sinking.  Think what it’s like today.

What I’m saying holds as true for self-publishers as for those published by regular publishers.  Today’s market needs a different approach.  First of all, you need first-rate books on how and where to sell.  Three I can think of that can be purchased on Amazon — used if need be — and are worth their weight in platinum are John Kremer’s sixth edition of his fabulous “1001 Ways To Market Your Books.”  From soup to nuts he lays out the ways and means of reaching the readers you want.  Another is Penny Sansevieri’s “Red Hot Internet Advertising.”  Still another is “Plug Your Book,” by Steve Weber.  Amazon’s website is http://www.amazon.com

It’s so important to keep abreast of what’s going on in book marketing.  The internet has taken over.  Print is still important, but fading.  All three of these books set forth the steps you need to take to find and keep readers.  And isn’t that what you want most of all?

Filed under: Publishing by Francine Craft | Social tagging: Amazon > John Kremer > Marketing > Penny Sansevieri > self-publishing > serious about writing
No Comments »

Corner Building

I’ve shared a little marketing info with you, and I will share much more, but I haven’t really gone into the usefulness of getting a market analysis of your precious brainchild, your book.  Please believe that this, your editorial analysis and your edit are every bit as important as writing your book.

A market analysis will save you time, effort, money and tears.  A good one does many things.  It gives you five or six comparable books and tells you how they’re selling, how many copies sold, how long on the shelf.  This helps you to know what your competition is and what you’re going to have to do to measure up or beat it.  A good analysis will astonish you with the books it compares yours to, but delve into it and you’ll find they’re usually right.

You’ll get a long — or maybe a short — listing of the people likely to be interested in and to buy your book.  This is something you really need because there are likely to be audiences you hadn’t thought about.  People who do these analyses have tools that aren’t available to you as a novice and the best ones are really good at what they do.

Extremely important also is that a market analysis gives you a listing of places that will — and will not — carry your book.  If this isn’t worth its weight in gold, I don’t know what is.  Let them do it for you with their expertise, and save yourself time, money and shoe leather.

A good market analysis will run you about $200, cheap at the price.  Two places I know of do them best: Wheatmark.com. and Writersinthesky.com.  I’m publishing my book with Wheatmark, so I can vouch for their excellence, and I’ve heard good things about Writers In The Sky.

I pray you take this message to heart and you’ll be far ahead on your road to marketting a successful book.

Filed under: Publishing by Francine Craft | Social tagging: analysis > books > comparison > Marketing analysis > marketing tools > sales > shelf life > success > valuable > Wheatmark
No Comments »

Pretty Purple

From time to time I’m going to suggest other sites that you can gather info from to your great advantage.  I’ve dealt with the people who set up these sites and found them to be respectful of your time, money, energy, not to mention your hopes and dreams — or your book.  I’ve found  them to be savvy and willing to do their best for you.  You will hear from them prompty and they don’t have dollar signs for eyes.

Today it’s Wheatmark.com.  I will mention this company often because it’s so far above the others I’ve worked with.  Remember, I’ve studied this field for over 20 years, back when it wasn’t so well regarded.  Now, as the comedian said, “Everybody wants to get into the act.”  And no wonder, so many of those who’ve tried it after studying it carefully are thrilled.

Also, please check into Wheatmark.com/blog.  This particular set of ongoing blogs comes largely from writers who are self-publishing with Wheatmark.  I never fail to find these blogs interesting and informative, and I believe you will too.

Filed under: Publishing by Francine Craft | Social tagging: 20 years of info > helpful > informative > interesting > self-publishing > Wheatmark.com > Wheatmark.com/blog
No Comments »