When we submit a book to a major publishing house, we forget how much money we are asking them to invest in us. Consider the publisher’s commitment to pay top editors for several rounds of edits, artists for the cover design, and the sales team for marketing. I’m leaving out key people, but you get the idea. Emphasizing your marketing knowledge and ability helps a proposal shine.
When writing your proposal, pretend you are a marketing person attending a meeting to discuss projects the editors agree should be published. Congratulations! Your writing has been proven, and you have a team of advocates. If you are a marketing person, you may ask:
1. Does this book have a winning title? This advice isn’t original, but it’s excellent: Bring your hooks into the title. The more specific, the more information your reader has about the topic and/or plot so the reader will be informed and drawn to your book. At the very least, if your topic turns some readers off; it is better for them not to buy the book now than to complain about it on Amazon later if they feel misled by the title.
2. Is this book categorized in a space where our publishing house performs well? Just as “Listerine” is associated with mouthwash, salespeople are likely to be known as specialists in certain books. If Jane is a fan of suspense novels, she’s expected to be successful and enthusiastic in marketing your book. If Harry is a chef, he should be a great advocate for cookbooks. Publishers’ sales teams won’t have a specialist in every category; but if your book makes sense for them and their list, the sales team already knows how to sell it. Backed by the editorial board’s confidence, they should welcome your project into the fold.
3. Can I sell the book with a phrase or sentence? Your talent to summarize adds sparkle and excitement. Novels must entice readers to grab the book immediately to discover what happens in the story. For nonfiction, the felt need and takeaway values are key. Nonfiction especially needs to have a fresh way to reach the intended audience. For example, an author writing on grief must show how his book will stand out with approach, particular knowledge, or encouragement. I visited Amazon and entered “books on grief” to find at least seven pages of about 60 books each as a starting point. I don’t share this to be discouraging but to demonstrate how easy it is for readers to find your competition. You must stand out.
4. Does this author have an established platform to help sell this book? Do you have a brand? Is your website inviting? Do you connect with potential readers through a newsletter? For nonfiction especially, do you have a vibrant speaking ministry attracting an audience?
If you were a book marketer, what other questions would you ask?
How does Jesus try to sell
the Hope He represents?
Of what glories can He tell
that make convincing sense
to those who would not deign to come
out of the fallen land?
His platform is the Kingdom,
His Father’s name His brand.
His title is the Prince of Peace,
a promise to the core
of world that longs for sweet release
from a foredoomed war,
and yet some still refuse to hear,
ears stopped and closed by sin held dear.
Very insightful, Andrew. I hope all our readers will think about your poem and be inspired to reach out to a loved one with the Good News today!
Great advice, and thanks for adding non fiction to the piece. Just the other day, a friend called me for advice. She had parted with her agent, because the agent had been telling her to concentrate on marketing. I yelled at her for a while (she’s tough, she can take it), and finally she agreed to call the agent, apologize, repent, and build her platform. The luxury of just writing the book and then sitting back while the publisher does the rest is long gone.
So true, Sy!
I have a question as far as making a fiction writer marketable. I’ve been working on it for a few months and have a blog and personal/writer website that are doing well. However, when it comes to the social media side, this is where I could use some advice. For some reason, Facebook won’t let me join. The first time they suspended my account within the second of joining for suspicious activity. I don’t know what I could have done in half a second to be considered suspicious other than take an inhale. The second time, they claimed I was using a fake name.
Because Facebook won’t allow me on, that means Instagram won’t work either. Should I continue focusing on building a social media standing or just focus on the blog? If I should keep trying with social media, which ones would you suggest?
I don’t know much about Facebook regarding problems with suspended accounts. I wonder if you have a different phone number you could try for registration because perhaps it’s the phone number that keeps getting you bumped if it’s on some “bad” list for them.
Either way, try other forms of social media as well. Hope you reach oodles of people!
Great advice and information, Tamela! Thank you!
Another one might be on a personal level. Talk it up, and don’t be shy. Some writers were raised not to brag about themselves, but as an author, it’s a must to keep the excitement going and talk about it to friends, family, and acquaintances.
Great advice, Loretta!
Thanks, Tamela, for this practical advice. I can vouch for how Amazon considered the sub-title of my book not productive when buyers realized they needed a second book to accompany my “companion guide.” Amazon took my book off their market.
I would ask if the book’s topic/subject/theme reflects the topics/subjects/themes that are on the minds of or beginning to be on the minds of our readers.