What’s an Author to do..? 
Certainly there are aspiring authors who may grumble that being published is a tough problem to have.
But it’s not as simple as it sounds, most particularly if you are one of the gutsy entrepreneurs who believed in themselves enough to self publish. The process of self-publishing can be a long one. Many authors do not realize that while self-publishing companies offer many services, the buck stops with you the author. And of course it’s your name on the book – and as the fantastic marketing tool it is, it should represent YOU.
So now we come to the crux…the book is published. You have boxes in your garage, your friends and relatives have all received their copies and despite a mild buzz when you first showed colleagues you’ve yet to move more than a handful.
Maybe you’ve tried to ramp things up on the internet but have become lost or unfocused, or perhaps you’ve been quoted high prices to create a website. Maybe you are like many busy and successful entrepreneurs – and you just don’t have time!
For whatever the reason, your literary pride and joy continues to sit, boxed up and in storage rather than out there where it should be.
Researching online can be a fantastic resource for people. And it’s one of the first things I tell my clients to do when we start discussing their needs. Find out what is already out there, what others have done, what has worked and what hasn’t…and never forget to ask for help!
Keep coming back for more resources and food for thought…
Daniele
Certainly there are aspiring authors who may grumble that being published is a tough problem to have.
But it’s not as simple as it sounds, most particularly if you are one of the gutsy entrepreneurs who believed in themselves enough to self publish. The process of self-publishing can be a long one. Many authors do not realize that while self-publishing companies offer many services, the buck stops with you the author. And of course it’s your name on the book – and as the fantastic marketing tool it is, it should represent YOU.
So now we come to the crux…the book is published. You have boxes in your garage, your friends and relatives have all received their copies and despite a mild buzz when you first showed colleagues you’ve yet to move more than a handful.
Maybe you’ve tried to ramp things up on the internet but have become lost or unfocused, or perhaps you’ve been quoted high prices to create a website. Maybe you are like many busy and successful entrepreneurs – and you just don’t have time!
For whatever the reason, your literary pride and joy continues to sit, boxed up and in storage rather than out there where it should be.
Researching online can be a fantastic resource for people. And it’s one of the first things I tell my clients to do when we start discussing their needs. Find out what is already out there, what others have done, what has worked and what hasn’t…and never forget to ask for help!
Keep coming back for more resources and food for thought…
Daniele
As one of the founders and CCO of Author Source, Daniele is passionate about teaching her clients how to harness the marketing power of the internet.
Hi Daniele, you’re right, it’s all in the marketing. but there is also something called “The Right Time.”
My self published book “An Ethiopian Odyssey” is a case in point. i sell to 50 – 70% of audiences when I give book talks, 30% of sales have come from my websites, but the media just weren’t interested. Even though it’s a very unusual, friends reunited quest, which began with a dream in April 2000 = that I’d returned to Addis Ababa (where I lived in the early 60′s) to help provide water.
So, after 3 years, the US is where I’m looking for major sales: There’s always been more interest there. The Odyssey is a positive story about faith and Africa, sharing dreams and the incredible kindness of strangers around the world. This time, I have a a PR agency behind me, book talks arranged and the self belief to market to anyone and everyone, as it’s a great book. (And I’m working with Peggy McColl too.)
After the success of “The Shack”, time for a great non-fiction book about how God’s love can transform lives (and bring water too of course!)
So don’t give up!
Annette