Arizona Book Publishing Association Offers Full-Day Conference
“Manuscript to Marketing: Publishing in the 21st Century”
Christine K. Bailey www.christinekbailey @theazadventurer and Kathleen O’Brien Thompson www.professionalpunch.com @profesionapunch
Christine and Kathleen will discuss the marketing strategy used to promote Christine’s latest edition of her Arizona travel planning guide (http://theazadventurer.com/). They will discuss how to write your book so that it’s easy to market, what your publisher can and will do, how to create a blended marketing plan that includes traditional marketing and social media, when to ask for help, and how to utilize different marketing channels to create additional book sales, writing and revenue opportunities.
My travel writing story – I want to write a book -
Send out books Write components of your marketing kit Print and design Provide Discounts Identify publisher resources Ask and you shall receive; or the alternative, don’t ask and you won’t get anything KOB – Partner with them, calls, sharing plans and ideas, feedback
KOB The brand story for your book is the WHY readers should buy it Christine’s brand is: The Arizona Adventurer – and by the way, her social media outlets support her brand CKB- How I developed theAzAdventurer KOB- So building on that brand… People want to interact with her and to purchase Christine’s book because it comes from a personal passion, one reviewer said that “Reading her book is almost like being Bailey's guest, sitting across from her at the breakfast table, and having her say: "Here are some things you might want to do today.“ But then we started to think bigger, because marketing should lead to a strategy of HOW TO SELL BOOKS…SO I identified that her book also was a valuable resource for businesses which lead to a bulk book strategy For example: hotels, real estate agents, meeting planners and their attendees, as well as locals wanting to discover or re-discover AZ
Don’t let the opportunity to share who you are pass you by; and be sure to give you readers multiple opportunities to connect with you KOB - Notice the evolution of her brand…adding MENTOR incorporates another important piece of who she is, AND also provides another revenue opportunity,: TRAVEL TALKS, WRITER WORKSHOPS
publish articles about your book topic or that tie into your personal brand (as author/expert) postcards, bookmarks Reviews of your book; offer to be a reviewer Purchasing ad space can be expensive, get creative! CKB- Church Bulletin, Facebook Ads Website can connect all the dots…more on that later!
Create author profiles in the most popular & relevant social media outlets (TWITTER & FB & LINKED) Posts / tweets should engage your audience, get people involved Create a blog and regularly post Provide value – expert advice, interesting tidbits, links to resources Dynamic landing page for the book Allows them a purchase opportunity Asks them to connect with you via social media platforms
Create a list of the ‘Top 25’ advocates, people who are fans and naturally promote you. Associates / colleagues Previous employers Community group members, fellow parishioners, friends Add Value – Periodically offer to be of service to your list providing helpful advice/information about your area of expertise Offer your help: donate books, your time (as a writer) Share and ASK f or opportunities - For book reviews, testimonials, or asking to have reciprocal linkage CKB –GERRI KOEPPEL