Comments on: Book Marketing for Authors: The Author Questionnaire http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:06:04 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Keith G. http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-23460 Keith G. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:54:57 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-23460 How about the editor actually reading the book and believing in it enough to give the writer an advance and letting his sales and marketing handle the promotion B.S.<br><br>Peace,<br><br>Keith G. How about the editor actually reading the book and believing in it enough to give the writer an advance and letting his sales and marketing handle the promotion B.S.

Peace,

Keith G.

]]> By: mandy hubbard http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-21970 mandy hubbard Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:41:08 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-21970 Min, what he's saying is that your publisher might not know the very best blog to advertise YOUR book on. For instance, my debut novel Prada & Prejudice came out from Razorbill/Penguin a month ago. I know that Jane Austen fans are going to at least be curious about it. I also know of several Austen-centric blogs and sites that might be a good place for some targeted advertising. These sites aren't going to do a thing for their other YA novel, a paranormal vampire romance. Sometimes the author is the one who knows their book--and the demographic--best, becuase they know exactly what the content is. A publicist has dozens of books to promote and he or she may not even read your book. Being a first time author doesn't excuse you from knowing your [potential] audience! Min, what he’s saying is that your publisher might not know the very best blog to advertise YOUR book on.

For instance, my debut novel Prada & Prejudice came out from Razorbill/Penguin a month ago. I know that Jane Austen fans are going to at least be curious about it. I also know of several Austen-centric blogs and sites that might be a good place for some targeted advertising.

These sites aren’t going to do a thing for their other YA novel, a paranormal vampire romance.

Sometimes the author is the one who knows their book–and the demographic–best, becuase they know exactly what the content is. A publicist has dozens of books to promote and he or she may not even read your book.

Being a first time author doesn’t excuse you from knowing your [potential] audience!

]]> By: wow gold http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-21199 wow gold Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:31:54 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-21199 Excellent tips .I really appreciate all these points, and I agree completely… Excellent tips .I really appreciate all these points, and I agree completely…

]]> By: min http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-18774 min Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:33:33 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-18774 Wait...so you're telling us that the publisher doesn't already know what blogs to advertise on? Really? Or is it that you're wondering if the author already has a following somewhere that they may not know about? These just seemed like questions that the publisher would know the answers to, not first time authors. Wait…so you’re telling us that the publisher doesn’t already know what blogs to advertise on? Really? Or is it that you’re wondering if the author already has a following somewhere that they may not know about? These just seemed like questions that the publisher would know the answers to, not first time authors.

]]> By: Marilyn http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-14718 Marilyn Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:26:12 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-14718 With a list like this, your sales should soar! My book just came out so I appreciate all the tips I can get, because I realized early on that a publisher publishes but they don't market your book. You have to become a marketing expert. Thanks for offering the author these good marketing tools. Marilyn With a list like this, your sales should soar! My book just came out so I appreciate all the tips I can get, because I realized early on that a publisher publishes but they don’t market your book. You have to become a marketing expert. Thanks for offering the author these good marketing tools.
Marilyn

]]> By: Dana Lynn Smith http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-12625 Dana Lynn Smith Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:08:43 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-12625 Great list of questions, Chris! Before I develop a book marketing plan for an author or indie publisher, I give the author a list of questions similar to these. The author is in the best position to know who are the most important contacts and influencers in their field, and I agree that it's more effective for authors to contact bloggers directly. Cheers, Dana Great list of questions, Chris! Before I develop a book marketing plan for an author or indie publisher, I give the author a list of questions similar to these. The author is in the best position to know who are the most important contacts and influencers in their field, and I agree that it’s more effective for authors to contact bloggers directly.
Cheers,
Dana

]]> By: Jennifer Webb http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-510 Jennifer Webb Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:51:50 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-510 I've really involved many of my authors in this process and have found it very effective to reach out to bloggers. A recently published author made the initial contact regarding the book and then I sent out the books once the blogger agreed to receive it. Often the authors already know these bloggers anyway, but it is still a nice courtesy. This way, the authors are making the personal contact, but not being burdened with the mailing and costs. I’ve really involved many of my authors in this process and have found it very effective to reach out to bloggers. A recently published author made the initial contact regarding the book and then I sent out the books once the blogger agreed to receive it. Often the authors already know these bloggers anyway, but it is still a nice courtesy. This way, the authors are making the personal contact, but not being burdened with the mailing and costs.

]]> By: Chris http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-507 Chris Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:13:08 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-507 Points taken on authors reaching out to bloggers. Not all authors are as willing to do that, and we feel its critical. Having said that, we like to think we "get it" and don't send a typical "marketing mailing" to bloggers, but if an author is willing to do the legwork to make the contacts we do think that's a bit more genuine. Points taken on authors reaching out to bloggers. Not all authors are as willing to do that, and we feel its critical.

Having said that, we like to think we “get it” and don’t send a typical “marketing mailing” to bloggers, but if an author is willing to do the legwork to make the contacts we do think that’s a bit more genuine.

]]> By: Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-506 Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:03:03 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-506 I think I got some kind of a questionnaire, but the questions were pretty generic, and although I spent time on it I can pretty much guarantee it was 95%+ ignored. I took on the blogger outreach (and much of everything else) myself, as I expected I'd need to I think I got some kind of a questionnaire, but the questions were pretty generic, and although I spent time on it I can pretty much guarantee it was 95%+ ignored.

I took on the blogger outreach (and much of everything else) myself, as I expected I’d need to

]]> By: Anne Z. http://ckwebb.com/social-networks-and-media/marketing-and-promotion/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Anne Z. Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:39:53 +0000 http://ckwebb.com/publishing/book-marketing-for-authors-the-author-questionnaire/#comment-504 So when do you give that questionnaire to the author? Seems to me the author herself ought to be mainly responsible for hooking up with rank-and-file blogs. I hate getting emailed by marketing people about books when the author should be contacting me him or herself. For example, I got Daniel Gross' book from a marketing person -- had no idea who he was or what his ideas were like -- tossed it in my pile of "maybe I'll read this someday" -- then later saw he writes for Newsweek and Slate. Too late though, the moment passed for me and I still didn't read the book. (Anyway, doesn't everyone know that bubbles are good for the economy? Seems obvious to me). If he had contacted me directly I'd be much more likely to do something with his book, maybe read it, maybe even review it on Amazon or on a blog. That's one thing Tim Ferriss did -- he reached out himself to lots of bloggers, individually. He didn't rely on his publisher to do it. I think the publisher needs to do the traditional media stuff though. Most authors aren't equipped to issue press releases and don't have contacts within traditional media organizations while that's exactly what the publishing company should be bringing to the table. So when do you give that questionnaire to the author?

Seems to me the author herself ought to be mainly responsible for hooking up with rank-and-file blogs. I hate getting emailed by marketing people about books when the author should be contacting me him or herself. For example, I got Daniel Gross’ book from a marketing person — had no idea who he was or what his ideas were like — tossed it in my pile of “maybe I’ll read this someday” — then later saw he writes for Newsweek and Slate. Too late though, the moment passed for me and I still didn’t read the book. (Anyway, doesn’t everyone know that bubbles are good for the economy? Seems obvious to me).

If he had contacted me directly I’d be much more likely to do something with his book, maybe read it, maybe even review it on Amazon or on a blog.

That’s one thing Tim Ferriss did — he reached out himself to lots of bloggers, individually. He didn’t rely on his publisher to do it.

I think the publisher needs to do the traditional media stuff though. Most authors aren’t equipped to issue press releases and don’t have contacts within traditional media organizations while that’s exactly what the publishing company should be bringing to the table.

]]>