Reading Time: 18 seconds Today's tip: LinkedIn still appears to be an under-utilized platform. It is gaining momentum as far as use goes, yet I think it hasn't quite reached its peak in two ways: 1) more people have profiles on LinkedIn (but they aren't great) and 2) their use of LinkedIn is, in general, an epic fail. No, I don't want to be pitched by someone ten seconds after connecting, especially if they're asking if I have ever thought about writing a book. I mean ... 👀 I'm not a LinkedIn...
1 day ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 28 seconds Today's tip: Just as there are industry-specific publications and organizations, there are LinkedIn Groups for every professional discipline and interest. When I wrote The Miracle Morning for Teachers (which now has 142 reviews, average 4.5 stars!), I connected with teachers, administrators, and even two school superintendents (plus several other authors of books for teachers and educators) due to the groups I joined on LinkedIn. Basic effective LinkedIn relationship...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 28 seconds Today's tip: Independent bookstores aren't the only place to sell books. If your book would make an excellent gift, such as this one for fathers by Kent Sanders, your local stationary stores, small clothing boutiques, and even higher-end car washes sometimes carry books. Why couldn't your book be sold there, too? I've sold (and sell!) my books in local boutiques, coffee shops, and even a small bakery. In each instance, I was a regular patron who struck up a...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 22 seconds Today's tip: Although there aren't as many as we'd all like to see, there are still many independent bookstores (such as McKay's and Parnasus in the Nashville area) and they are owned and operated by—you guessed it—book lovers! Take a few copies of your book and introduce yourself to the manager or the person who decides which books they'll stock. Bonus points if you offer to do a book signing (and/or reading) and can get traffic into the store. Be sure to autograph...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 28 seconds Hey! to all of the new course students! I'll look forward to seeing you the 2nd Tuesday in September for the LIVE Q&A! Today's tip: Attend, host a booth, or sponsor an industry event. You wrote your book to help an ideal reader, right? Of course you did! (No book is for "everyone," save that one!) Because of this, putting yourself and your book where your ideal readers gather can multiply the number of people you can impact with your book in a short time. Identify...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 20 seconds Today's tip: Focus on sharing your book within your industry. Does your industry have a newsletter, magazine, or other publication? Do they allow advertising? Many of these provide opportunities for targeted advertising or even contributed articles (think excerpt or even additional content on your area of expertise), and many times the juice is worth the squeeze. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to put eyes on your book, especially if you're using your book to...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 20 seconds Today's tip: Leave your book in spaces and places where it can be discovered. I call this "reverse marketing" and it's one of my favorite book-in-motion ninja tactics! Put your book where your ideal reader hangs out—waiting rooms, coffee shops, airports, even hotel lobbies. I once placed my book exactly where it belonged on a bookstore shelf (with my business card tucked inside). The store called asking what to do with it. "Sell it!" I said. They laughed and asked for...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 20 seconds There are four possible formats: ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audio. Keep in mind the way you like to read books isn't the way everyone wants to read their books! Today's tip: Have your book available in all formats. I avoided print books for a couple of years when I was gifted my first Kindle. Big mistake! It wasn't until I saw disappointment on the face of prospective readers I reconsidered my hard-and-fast decision to produce "ebooks only!" If you haven't...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Reading Time: 20 seconds Books that sell abysmally (and let's face it: less than 250 copies is pretty abysmal) isn't because the books aren't good (sometimes they're great!). Yes, I already told you it's because the author doesn't market it effectively. It's not entirely their fault, really, because we've been sold a bill of goods ("hope is a strategy"!). Nope, it sure is not. Which brings us to -- Today's tip: Book clubs are one of the most underutilized goldmines for book sales. One author...
11 days ago • 1 min read