Why You Should Sell Your Book on Amazon

by Corinne Liccketto

It’s a known fact that authors will make more money if consumers buy their books through their personal book or author website. So why would an author make their book available for purchase on Amazon.com where they’ll lose a greater percentage of the sale?

Amazon is the place to go for books. Having your product available for purchase on Amazon makes you and your book a part of the literary community. In order to increase awareness for your book, establish credibility, and put consumers at ease, Amazon distribution is pertinent.

If you’re conducting a book publicity campaign, media will often check for more information on Amazon. If your book is not there, some may think it doesn’t exist. We’ve actually witnessed this firsthand. We were promoting a book for an author who had not uploaded his book on Amazon by the start of his book publicity campaign. When active pitching was underway, a media contact emailed the author’s publicist to say he had checked on Amazon but couldn’t locate the book. He thought the book was not yet published and, unfortunately, the media opportunity was missed.

If a consumer is interested in purchasing your book, they’re most likely to buy through a website that they know. While they may be able to read your author bio on your website and familiarize themselves with your book, the truth is you’re still unknown to them. Consumers feel most comfortable entering their credit card information on a reputable site. Plus, the more places your book is available for purchase, the more book sales you’re likely to see.

Amazon is a literary community. Having your book available for purchase on Amazon means readers can share their feedback. Professional reviewers can share their reviews. Authors can create their profile, giving insight into their background, expertise, and inspiration for their book. With the newer 'Search Inside' feature, interested parties can preview the product before moving forward with a purchase or review. Remember, the more information a consumer and media contact can review, the more appeal the product takes on and the more credibility you’ll add to your author platform. For tips on how to make the most of your Amazon book page, please review President Sandy Diaz’s previous blog post.

Bottom line: Don’t miss out on visibility or, most importantly, book sales. Make your book available for sale on Amazon today!

6 Book Publicity Tips for the New Year!

by Corinne Liccketto

Once the major holiday buzz has subsided, media contacts are back in their offices, and the New Year’s news is beginning to unfold, it is an important time to map out your book publicity plans for the next several months.

These 5 simple book publicity tips will help set you on the path to promotion in 2011.

1) Tie your book into the New Year hype. What makes your book a good one for the New Year? Consider all of the relevant themes in your book and points in your message and see if any can be shaped into a ‘New Year’ pitch.

Put a New Year spin on a children’s book that teaches kids manners:
“Rudeness – A Trend of 2010: New Book Sets Children on the Path to Good Manners in 2011”

Tie your business management book in with the 2011 hype:
“What’s Your New Year’s Business Resolution? New Book Helps Managers and Executives Set Reachable Goals for 2011”

2) Look up appropriate magazines’ editorial calendars. Make a list of magazines whose content fits the themes in your book and points of your message. Research on each magazine’s website the editorial calendar – can usually be found in the ‘media kit’ or ‘press’ page of the website. Knowing what features are being planned gives you the opportunity to pitch the editors your book to supplement the articles. Also, knowing when the articles are expected to run will allow you to plan the best time to submit your pitch.

*Reminder: Magazines typically work 3-4 months ahead of each issue.

3) Research holidays, awareness months, and remembrance days. Fill your 2011 calendar with dates that relate back to you and your book. By researching ahead of time which remembrance days, holidays, and awareness months and weeks tie in to a theme in your novel, a chapter in your business book, or a part of your personal message, you’ll be able to map out when you need to begin pitching. Remember, give yourself 3-4 months for magazines and at least 3 weeks for newspapers and online publications.

*For a list of holidays, awareness months/weeks, and remembrance days, visit http://www.epromos.com/education/calendars/.

4) Book your book fairs/tradeshows. Not only should you consider the big book fairs and trade shows, like BookExpo America (www.bookexpoamerica.com), you should check out fairs and festivals taking place in your region. Make sure you’re equipped to attend with business cards in hand. The easier you make it for people to get in touch with you, the higher your chances become to hear back.

*For a breakdown of U.S. and worldwide book fairs and festivals, visit www.bibliobuffet.com and find the lists under ‘Books & More Books’

5) Start your blog. Make it a New Year’s resolution to start your author blog. Your blog will be a great way to incorporate ongoing industry trends and news developments that relate to your book and message. For fiction writers, your blog will be a way to talk about ‘real life’ issues and discussions that relate back to your book and message. For nonfiction and business writers, your blog might become a place where you can offer additional tips or advice to your followers and expand on the points you’ve made in your book.

6) Set 3 long term goals for you and your book. By brainstorming and setting a few practical goals for you and your book at the beginning of the year, you’ll be able to monitor your progress towards reaching them. The above tips should help you hone in on which goals are most appropriate for you and your book. Are you interested in hiring a graphic designer? The book fairs and tradeshows will be a great place to start networking! Do you want to be branded as an expert in your field? Tying yourself in with awareness months and causes is a good way to let people know about your expertise.

Bottom line: If you devote a few hours to completing these tasks, you’ll give yourself a year’s worth of promotional homework and be well on your way to raising awareness for you and your book. So, what’s your book publicity resolution?