ON THE TRAIL OF A BOOK SALE: AUTHOR GIVES ADVICE ON MARKETING

FAIRS AND NATURE CENTERS, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES WITH COFFEE HOUSES TOO

If you have a published book, and you're not famous, you know what a challenge marketing that book can be.

It's not enough to make a digital audio version of your book, or an e-book. You need to list the book on amazon, and every website you can find that links readers and authors. But your book sales are not soaring through the roof. What's the problem? Beats me!

What I have found is that I am a pretty good sales person. I have a "circuit" that I do consisting of Fairs: street fairs, crafts fairs, holiday fairs, book and author fairs, nature center events, coffee houses, and almost any place where I can sell my books as gifts, because books make great reasonably priced gifts. I'll let you in on a little secret. This is fun!

What do you need to accomplish this? A supply of books, a poster, professionally produced book marks, a brochure describing your books and telling folks where to find you on-line.

Make sure you have a facebook page and a website or blog.

Sometimes you need a portable table and chair. Most of the time they are provided. Dress your table up with the current holiday theme. Pretty tables attract customers. And smile, stand by your table. Look approachable. Bored out of my mind one hot afternoon, I started holding up one of my books, and saying, "Do you know, I wrote this book, and I'd like to tell you about it." I was amazed and how many folks were willing to listen, and it increased my sales.

Advertise the event. Use social media or create a flyer and post it all around the area where the event will be held.

I've actually made it to Step #2: Facial Recognition. People squint at me, and say, "Where do I know you from?" I attribute this to the fact that my face is plastered all over the place, social media and flyers.

If you writer a book, you self-publish, and you are not one of the glitterati, you have to let people know who you are and that your book is a damn good read, or will improve their life in some way.

GET TO WORK