Monday, March 4, 2013

The 5 Things I Know About Book Marketing

 by Maggie Marr

I've had a multitude of careers.  I am an attorney, an author, and an independent film producer.  I was a prosecutor, a public guardian, and a motion picture literary agent.  I've been pubbed by a major house with a ginormous marketing budget, and I've indie pubbed.  I've hired publicists, gone on book tours, and tried to publicize myself.  Yet even with this vast and eclectic mix in such varying and interesting forums I feel that I know next to nothing about how to successfully market a book.



But these 5 things I know for sure when it comes to marketing my books.

1.  WOM sells books.  Word of Mouth--this is the only thing that any publicist or marketing guru will admit to knowing beyond any doubt sells books.  I am much more likely to pick up a book that a friend of mine raves about than a book about which I've heard nothing.





2.  Write Great Books.  Seems so simple right?  It's not--at least not for me.  I am well into the double digits with the number of books I've written and I struggle each day to make this book--the book I am writing now--better than the last.  This is my ultimate goal--that each time a reader picks up one of my books they can say (a) this was worth my money (b) this was worth my time (c) I enjoyed this book!  I want the last book I wrote to be the greatest marketing tool it can possibly be for the next book I write.  






3.  Rely on your friends.  We writers are in this boat together.  I know who you are--my compadres, my compatriots, my soeurs de coeurs--and you know who I am too.  I am here to shout your successes from the rooftops as I know you will do mine.  I do this not for my own benefit, but because I adore you, and your talents, and I know how tough this business is and I need to feel I am in this with people I enjoy.








4.  Twitter/Facebook/Blog but DO NOT let social-media take over your life.  Social-media is meant to be a tool--social media is not writing and can in fact become a detriment to authors.  Our time is precious.  It takes loads of time to write a solid book--for me every minute is crucial because often I am scrounging for writing time around my career as an attorney and also the beloved (on a good day!) responsibilities that come with being a mom and a wife.









5.  Get a GREAT cover.  I may not buy a book based on a cover, but I will certainly not pick up a book to look at if I don't dig the cover.  I think this is particularly important when an author indie-pubs.  A professional looking cover helps the reader--even unconsciously--to believe that this is a well-written, professionally edited book.  You want the reader to start from that point--then, dear author, DO NOT disillusion them.    


Maggie Marr is an author, attorney, and independent film producer.  She began her hollywood career pushing the mail cart then became a motion picture literary agent.  She writes the popular Hollywood Girls Club series.  She wrote Can't Buy Me Love and Courting Trouble.  She is also legal counsel for the Women's Fiction Writers Association.  Hollywood Hit, the latest installment of the Hollywood Girls Club series publishes summer 2013.  You can follow Maggie on facebook, her blog, or twitter.  She is eternally grateful for each person who buys and reads her books. 

Cover designs by Kim Killion of The Killion Group. 

41 comments:

  1. Hey Maggie! Love this post!! And I love your covers, too.

    I find it so hard to NOT let social media take over my life!! Thanks for reminding us that it's all a balancing act.

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    1. Social media is a daily battle that I wage. I often turn off the internet on the other side of the room in hopes that I will be too lazy to get up and go turn it back on!

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  2. Your opening paragraph was comforting. If someone with your pedigree is still unsure about marketing, then insert my huge sigh of relief here.

    It's interesting that with all of the hoopla about social marketing, and it is important, the #1 seller is exactly what you nailed, WOM.

    Thanks for sharing this, and I agree with Brenda...your covers are stunning.

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    1. Thank you, Christa. I do love those covers--I feel so lucky to have found Kim Killion.

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  4. Great post! I LOVE your covers - did you do them yourself?

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    1. Thank you, Leslie. Kim Killion did all my covers--she is brilliant!

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  5. This is great, Maggie. And, based on your professional covers/presentation, I'd say you know what you're doing!

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    1. Thank you, Lauren. What wonderful and kind words. xoMaggie

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  6. How sad that Write Great Books isn't the first tip on your list! And how important that makes your other 4 tips!

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    1. You are right Leslie. Unless the book is good -- you can shout and shout and shout and it won't sell. I think ultimately the best thing any author can do is write a great story.

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  7. I second what Christa said: your first line was comforting. I swear I've read a gazillion "how to's" since starting this writing gig and I've done 'em all for my first book. None of them worked so far. The only one I haven't tried yet is "the next book" syndrome. My agent and I have just finished our edits and she'e going to start querying editors for my second book. I'll see how it goes having a second book out there with two more waiting in the wings. Thanks for the sound advice, Maggie.
    Patti

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    1. Good Luck with the new book! Each book is such a wonderful and amazing journey.

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  8. Thanks for this advice and my. you are a busy bee.
    It's really true that WOM is the most important thing.

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  9. The covers are brilliant. Kim Killion did them she is a fabulous cover designer!

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  10. You nailed the five biggies of promo, Maggie, and amen to #4!

    I wish we could all figure this out, but the only thing I have to add is have an opt in button at your website for people to sign up for a newsletter. Quarterly newsletter help remind readers you're out there, and you have more down the pipe for them.

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    1. That is a good one, Lynne! Yes, a newsletter for your readers is an excellent tool.

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  11. All good advice, Maggie! And I agree with Lynne that adding a 'sign up for my newsletter' feature on your website can help keep authors top-of-mind when a reader gets a release announcement...

    Leigh

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  12. Such good advice, Maggie. It's so good to hear that even for someone with so much experience this is tough. It comforts those of us who have none of it!

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    1. Just flying in the dark--you hope if you write a solid book that readers will find it!

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  13. Love this. Great advice. Will have to share with my readers!

    Jane

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  14. You know a little more than me! Thanks for such great advice.

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  15. If anyone knew a sure method, they would be a gazillionaire because they would sell it to every authors struggling to find the magic bullet.

    We keep plugging away and look to the day WOM skyrockets!

    Thanks for the great post.

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    1. Yes, Christine--exactly right. No 'magic bullet'. I like to believe a whole lot of hard work on craft, and marketing, and self-belief can help books find readers!

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  16. Wonderful covers, Maggie, and great stories, too!!
    Congrats! And may there be many more good things ahead ;).

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    1. Thank you, Marilyn! I am truly blessed to be surrounded by writers like you, and all the other Girlfriends. xo

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  17. Loved this post, Maggie.

    I try to think of Social Media as a little, electronic extension of WOM, maybe if only to justify the time it takes. When I'm struggling for just the right way to plug someone's book in 140 characters or less, I tell myself, "Hey, it's a lot more efficient than calling everyone you know and saying, 'I just read this terrific book...'!"

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    1. Thank you! Yes, Social Media can be a big part of WOM, but it can be a challenge can't it to tell just how much you LOVE a book that you've read in 140 characters or less.

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  18. Really enjoyed the post, was nodding at each piece of advice, especially re the social media. Mostly I keep writing to build that backlist! And your covers ARE gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you! Yes, backlist is a wonderful, wonderful thing for an author!

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  19. I totally agree about covers! They are SO important. Yours are great!

    Thanks for an informative post.

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  20. Thank you, Kathy! You have great covers too!

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