NOTE: Because many words in this article are likely to trigger sp^m filters, we've disguised them with symbols (e.g. sp^m). This will ensure a higher delivery rate if you use this article in your e-zine.
If you're selling your book online, you're practically guaranteed to increase sales by publishing an e-mail newsletter, or "e-zine."
Why? Well, for a start, it's a super way to give readers a taste of your expertise and style along with samples of your content. This ensures they'll come to be familiar with you, trust you, and hopefully buy your book when they're ready for more information.
Also, it's a great way to *capture prospects* who aren't ready to buy your book when they visit your site, but are still interested in the info you have to share.
Based on my own experiences in marketing my manual, 'Boost Business With Your Own E-zine,' here are 7 ways to help increase book sales using an e-mail newsletter.
First thing: Encourage e-zine SIGNUPS on your Web site where you promote your book.
Before you even begin publishing, start collecting e-mail addresses. Place a signup form in many places on your site to invite visitors to subscribe to your free e-zine. This way, if a visitor isn't interested in buying your book today, she can sign up for your free e-zine. Now you haven't lost her, and she'll learn even *more* about your book from being a subscriber.
E-zine publishers also report GREAT signup results using pop-up and pop-under boxes at their Web sites.
Examples: On my main site, http://www.ezinequeen.com, I feature a signup form on EVERY page, as well as a pop-up box. On my book sales site, http://www.ezinequeen.com/tutorial, I have a pop-under box that appears once you close the main window.
Remember: NEVER sign anyone up without her permission!
Feature EXCERPTS and/or TIPS from your book in your e-zine.
These can be either direct excerpts or short tips that summarize some of your content. Go through your book and highlight individual tips or small sections that could stand well on their own. Just don't give away the whole store! For example, giving your readers a whole chapter of your book in each issue is going overboard.
Besides lifting material directly from your book, try some other spins on your topic such as a list of top 10 tips, a how-to article, a list of resources, or a review of a trend in the industry.
Example: One of my clients, a life coach, has a hard-cover book out right now that features 101 tips on how to attract what you want in life. Each issue of her weekly e-zine features one of those tips, along with a brief explanation of how to implement it.
Directly after your article, give a quick PROMO BLURB that shamelessly plugs your book.
Why right after the article and before anything else? If someone reads your article/tip and says to themselves, "Gee, that was great information," they'll be ready to hear what else you have to share on that subject. Really pump it up and have a good time with it.
Example: "Did you like today's article? If you did, you'll LOVE my new book, 'Double Your Business in Six Months.' It's jammed with more than 257 great ideas to help you grow your business FAST. Learn more and order now at [Web address here]. You can begin using my best tips within minutes!"
In each issue, offer a TESTIMONIAL from one of your book purchasers.
Let your readers know that many other people just like them ARE buying your book and LOVE it. Idea: Create a small section in your e-zine for this purpose. In each issue, feature a short testimonial from one of your readers here.
Example: "What 'Beauty Blastoff' Readers Are Saying: 'I can't tell you how much your book has helped me improve my appearance. Thanks to your tips, I've lost 20 pounds, cleared up my skin, and rid of all my unwanted hair. Now my rich ex-husband even wants me back. You're a saint!'" - Suzy Smitten, Los Angeles, Calif.
Offer your readers a SPECIAL DISCOUNT for a l1mited time.
Make your readers feel special by offering them a special discount on your book when you can. For best response rates, make it a limited time offer to lend a sense of urgency. I did this with my manual when it first came out and got great results.
Example: "For Subscribers Only: Buy my book before midnight this Friday and receive a 20% discount!"
If you can't give your subscribers a discount, offer something else to make them feel special, such as a bonus report or free phone consultation with their purchase.
Mention your book in as many other places as possible in your e-zine.
Bottom line: The more you mention your book, the higher your chances they'll buy. While your opportunities are endless, here are a few ideas to start with:
in your masthead (This is where you give the reader info about your publication - usually at the very top.)
in your editor's or publisher's note (This is where you give a personal note to your readers.)
in your article (If you mention a certain point that you cover wonderfully in your book, say so!)
To attract even more prospects, advertise your e-zine in your everyday e-mail SIGNATURE FILE.
You know what a signature (or "sig") file is, right? It's that little blurb with contact info that you can automatically insert at the end of every e-mail you send. Besides your obvious contact information, give a quick plug for your book AND e-zine.
Why? Well, if you just advertise your book, some people will read your sig file and think, "That's cool, but I don't want to buy anything right now." BUT if you advertise your FREE e-zine, they'll likely take advantage of your offer. THEN you've got them on your list.
Example: Here's what I have at the END of my sig file, after my contact information: "BOOST BUSINESS by publishing your own e-mail newsletter! Learn how now - sign up for fr*ee how-to tips at http://www.ezinequeen.com."
(c) 2000-2003 Alexandria K. Brown. All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of the award-winning manual, "Boost Business With Your Own E-zine." To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://EzineQueenTutorial.com/
Westwind Communications: effective Book Marketing NOLA.com Com Book marketing and publicity is a specialty of Westwind Communications. http://www.WestWindCos.Com The key to successful book marketing and book ...
The Magic of Niche Marketing for Authors Forbes (blog) What does a recipe for white cake have to do with selling a literary novel? A lot, as it turns out, in the case of The School of Essential Ingredients, ...
New Book Marketing Strategies & Book Promotion Secrets I-Newswire.com (press release) MAKING YOU STAND OUT IS THE ANNIE JENNINGS PR DIFFERENCE: You are hand pitched by our team of savvy publicists who have been with Annie Jennings for over 10 ...
RELATED ARTICLESAuthors Should Be Optimistic A client wrote me recently and asked what I thought of his using a publicist to promote his book - to the tune of $4,000 per month. In my usual blunt fashion, I responded by telling him most self-published books never sell more than 100 copies, that 2000 sales is considered excellent in the industry and that the number of people who sell between 50,000 and 100,000 can probably be counted on one hand. Book Signing: Fun and Profit for Writers and Readers Have you ever walked into a bookstore when an author is scheduled to do a book signing and found no one in the audience? Do you shy away from autograph tables, perhaps fearing that someone may ask you to buy a book? Consider the other side of the equation. A book signing is an opportunity to learn about the author and what makes a person undertake the challenge of writing a book. Poetry Chapbooks: Ten Tips for Promotion There are several ways of publishing your chapbook. You can do it yourself with a printer and a heavy duty stapler; you can submit a manuscript to a literary entitiy that publishes chapbooks; or you can try a self publishing company. Publishing Your Book-What Way is Best For You? - Part 1 Your print or ebook is nearly finished. You wonder if you should try to get an agent to represent you to the publisher. Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 2 Think of Your Promotion Time and BudgetMost one or two-book authors don't have a large marketing budget. Marketing their speaking leaves them little time to write and promote their books. Comments From A Book Reviewer For the past several years I have been reviewing books for my own site, Bookpleasures.com, as well as many other sites. Top Ten Non-Techie Steps to Market your Book Online Are you an author who is looking for new ways to promote your book or business? Does the traditional promotion you do take too long and not bring you top results? Are you willing to investigate easy non-techie ways to get more book buyers?Check out these ten steps within "Ten Non-Techie Ways to Market your Book Online:"Step1. Ten Steps Preparation and FoundationWhen marketing your book Online, you need to attract the right customers to your Web site. Best Sellers Aren't Written - They're Made - It's All About Promotion Writing a book is becoming more and more of a trend these days. In fact, an estimated 5,000 mystery books were published last year in the United States alone, and that number is expected to grow. Get Rich Writing Fiction Some of us write simply because we can't not write. Ideas grabus, move us, and demand to be written. How to Self Publish and Promote Your Own Book If you are reading this article then you have already toyed with the idea of self publishing. You may be unsure at this point and without a doubt, the decision to self publish, should not be taken lightly. How to Get Your Book Reviewed Imagine your book at the top of the Best Sellers List of the New York Times. Most authors do. 8 Ways to Find Good Reviewers for Your New Book Review Your Reviewer: You will be sorry if you do not take the time to get a pretty good picture of your reviewer. Use e-mail, snail mail or anything else you've got to pop a few questions to your reviewer. Five Book Back Cover Mistakes and How to Solve Them Did you know that your back cover information is, after the cover, the best way to sell more books? And, that most authors, emerging and experienced, miss this opportunity to engage more potential buyers? Your book's front cover and sizzling title must impress your buyers in four-eight seconds. If they like it, they will spend ten-thirty seconds or so on your back cover-a great opportunity to convince them that your book is necessary for their pleasure or success. Why Writers Dont Do a Book Signing Whenever someone suggests you do a book signing and you do not want to, here are five reasons you can give them:1) It's not worth the time; there's not enough money in it.2) Speaking is where the money is. Writing a Book's Marketing Plan for Maximum Profit Much has been written about book proposals. But less has been written about book marketing plans. How to Sell Your E-book - (or other information product) - Through Quickie Seminars I've been selling my own self-published information products (mainly e-books) online for the past 3 years. Is it profitable? Definitely. Increase Book Sales: When a Book is No Longer Just a Book for Sale Do you have books sitting in your garage that you haven't sold yet and looking for ways to move them? Then you will want to know about these five outrageous ideas that aren't difficult and can be just plain out fun. Dede Hall, author of The Starving Student's Cookbook had very poor sales for her books. Interview with Book and Marketing Coach-Judy Cullins - Part 1 To know what to do at the right time in book writing, publishing, or Internet marketing, consult a coaching expert who has lived it all for 20 years--Judy Cullins. Q 1- Would you say there is a difference in marketing tactics for different genres? If so, what kind of promotion would you suggest for, say, authors of children's books, mystery/romance, or non-fiction? If there is no discernible difference, what do you see as the best method of book promotion? A 1- The best promotion is a natural promotion--that authors will actually do. Publicity for Buzz Marketing for Authors Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published! Now, all you have to do is get people to buy it.Getting people to actually enter a bookstore with the purposeof buying your book is not easy because you're not a "brandname" yet. Top 10 Tips for Book Titles that Sell Well A clever title is great if it is clear, but a clear title is always preferable. The best? A clear and clever title.
