Most of us who work with books choose the field because we love books. Yet, once in, it's rare that we read books solely for pleasure. It's not that we don't enjoy the books, but more, we can't quite turn off the book making machine.
A book publicist is completely vexed by the dilemma. Each time Mr. Obie Joe finishes a book, we hit the web to see what kind of book promotion this book got.
Two excellent starting points are the author's web site and/or blog, and the Amazon page. From there, search via google or LexisNexis their media coverage. Then check out technorati and others for blog mentions. And don't forget any presence on social networks like MySpace, and a big fav with writers, Gather.
I know there are writers who cringe at the relentless tasks that can be associated with online presence, and to them, Mr. Obie Joe advises to stick with a decent web site that has a lot of timeless info. points like: discussion guides; Author Q&A; PDF of press kit, and calendar.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Like gold paper
There are many tools of necessity for book publicists as they begin to publicize a book and author. Some are essential: a willing author, cash for the tour; an angle for media pitches, press kits, among others.
Mr. Obie Joe is also of the opinion that books, yeah, the actual BOOK, would be of help to a book publicist. If we have a book, we can send it to a bookstore on the fence about a booking, or send it to a media source we're cultivating, and so on.
Yet given the trouble many publishers give book publicists on securing adequate numbers of either the ARC or the finished book makes Mr. Obie Joe wonder if these books are made of gold. Granted, publishers are leery of feeding Amazon's used book sales, but caution has overridden reason. Recently we had to make our own Xerox version of an ARC because the ARCs had been used by "senior management."
Give your book publicist the ARCs they need, or you can bet that book's worth will soon be worth just pulp.
Mr. Obie Joe is also of the opinion that books, yeah, the actual BOOK, would be of help to a book publicist. If we have a book, we can send it to a bookstore on the fence about a booking, or send it to a media source we're cultivating, and so on.
Yet given the trouble many publishers give book publicists on securing adequate numbers of either the ARC or the finished book makes Mr. Obie Joe wonder if these books are made of gold. Granted, publishers are leery of feeding Amazon's used book sales, but caution has overridden reason. Recently we had to make our own Xerox version of an ARC because the ARCs had been used by "senior management."
Give your book publicist the ARCs they need, or you can bet that book's worth will soon be worth just pulp.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Blog hunting
One of Mr. Obie Joe's favorite features of Google Alerts is the blog section. After the news stories on a particular topic, there is a listing of blogs commenting on the same. Many of the blogs are worthwhile -- meaning the writers are real, and not phishers.
Plus, many of the blogs are ones not easily found through technorati and other engines, so that's another reason why Google Alerts, e-mailed daily, are a great resource for putting together your own blog book tour.
Plus, many of the blogs are ones not easily found through technorati and other engines, so that's another reason why Google Alerts, e-mailed daily, are a great resource for putting together your own blog book tour.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Handheld book design
Recent talk about Kindle as another entry in the electronic book reader category has given occasion for Mr. Obie Joe's thoughts on the perfect e-reader:
• Include book design as an essential element. Cover design is important, but the flow of the book is granted by the book design. Kindle delivers every book in the same font and point size. C'mon. The technology can't be that much of a jump up to include a variety of fonts, spacing, and point sizes.
• The e-book currently under development by the Library of Congress for their sight and mobility-impaired readers places an emphasis on lighting and sound. Any e-reader should have a variety of sound functions. I know Sony's Reader has it, but not as flavored as preferred.
• Cut out the nonsense with the proprietary approach. Sony has placed a 60-day expiration date on their books; other e-readers have similar "rent-to-not-own" features. One of the reasons iPod took off so surely and quickly as it did came from the merging of content with hardware. Wouldn't it be great if a publisher like HarperCollins (surely a publisher on the forefront of digitalizing its books) collaborated with a tech company to design their own ereader?
• For the existing ereaders, Mr. Obie Joe wonders if celebrity editions might move things along. Just as celebrities boosted sneaker sales, make a Stephen King ereader (black, optional scream button, extra lights for reading in the dark), or a Jayne Ann Krentz edition (purple, curvy, capable of storing way more text than the average ereader), or even an Ian McEwan edition (emphasis on the high tech look, small text).
• Libraries will soon rent out ereaders from the Library of Congress' disability program. Those companies with ereaders looking for their audience would be wise to donate hundreds to libraries for regular readers to take for a turn.
• Include book design as an essential element. Cover design is important, but the flow of the book is granted by the book design. Kindle delivers every book in the same font and point size. C'mon. The technology can't be that much of a jump up to include a variety of fonts, spacing, and point sizes.
• The e-book currently under development by the Library of Congress for their sight and mobility-impaired readers places an emphasis on lighting and sound. Any e-reader should have a variety of sound functions. I know Sony's Reader has it, but not as flavored as preferred.
• Cut out the nonsense with the proprietary approach. Sony has placed a 60-day expiration date on their books; other e-readers have similar "rent-to-not-own" features. One of the reasons iPod took off so surely and quickly as it did came from the merging of content with hardware. Wouldn't it be great if a publisher like HarperCollins (surely a publisher on the forefront of digitalizing its books) collaborated with a tech company to design their own ereader?
• For the existing ereaders, Mr. Obie Joe wonders if celebrity editions might move things along. Just as celebrities boosted sneaker sales, make a Stephen King ereader (black, optional scream button, extra lights for reading in the dark), or a Jayne Ann Krentz edition (purple, curvy, capable of storing way more text than the average ereader), or even an Ian McEwan edition (emphasis on the high tech look, small text).
• Libraries will soon rent out ereaders from the Library of Congress' disability program. Those companies with ereaders looking for their audience would be wise to donate hundreds to libraries for regular readers to take for a turn.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Does promotion sell books?
The universe is made up of mathematical equations. We're all fascinated with the discoveries of formulas, that when followed, point to the desired result. (Which is odd, because most formulas point to more questions).
In book promotion tasks, many formulas abound:
Today Show appearance + PW starred review + "accidental" celebrity endorsement = bestseller.
Or:
Blog tour with lots of reviews, author interviews, and discussion + non-bookstore retail store placement = quirky, decent seller.
Or:
Get book in front of niche audience in variety of settings (media, shelf placement, online) at least 8 times.
In meetings with new clients, Mr. Obie Joe is often asked, "Well, can you guarantee we'll actually sell books if we do any promotion?" Resisting the impulse for the obvious answer -- well, I can guarantee no promotion will sell no books -- Mr. Obie Joe tries to focus on what matters. Which is, we're not always sure which technique gets what sale. Many times a person buys the book from something seen or heard weeks before.
Any book promotion technique seeds the ground for an eventual sale. Just as there are no guarantees, there are no shortcuts. Book promotion is a series of steps, one inspired by the one before.
We do know this: many books become hits by word of mouth, which is tough to quantify.
In book promotion tasks, many formulas abound:
Today Show appearance + PW starred review + "accidental" celebrity endorsement = bestseller.
Or:
Blog tour with lots of reviews, author interviews, and discussion + non-bookstore retail store placement = quirky, decent seller.
Or:
Get book in front of niche audience in variety of settings (media, shelf placement, online) at least 8 times.
In meetings with new clients, Mr. Obie Joe is often asked, "Well, can you guarantee we'll actually sell books if we do any promotion?" Resisting the impulse for the obvious answer -- well, I can guarantee no promotion will sell no books -- Mr. Obie Joe tries to focus on what matters. Which is, we're not always sure which technique gets what sale. Many times a person buys the book from something seen or heard weeks before.
Any book promotion technique seeds the ground for an eventual sale. Just as there are no guarantees, there are no shortcuts. Book promotion is a series of steps, one inspired by the one before.
We do know this: many books become hits by word of mouth, which is tough to quantify.
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