As usual, I took Rascal for a walk around the neighborhood. Also as usual, I saw many For Sale signs, most of which had been up for at least a year.
Then I noticed something different. One of the signs said SOLD! That was a happy surprise. It feels good to witness someone's success, even if I don't know that person. I have no idea about the circumstances behind the sale. Perhaps the seller had to lower the price drastically. Maybe the seller decided to make further improvements to make the property more eye catching or up to standards.Maybe a new realtor entered the picture. Maybe the right advertising was done. Whatever the case, the end result was a sale.
It didn't take me long to make the connection betweem that and the author situation. Many of us are either doing what we can to get noticed by an agent or editor, or going through the steps for self-publishing. Whatever the case, our manuscripts need to be in tiptop shape, and appealing. It doesn't stop there. Once our books are published, be it electronically, in print, or both, we need to get noticed. We need to spread the word our books are quality and are really great reads.
One way is to find our target audience and go after it, so our books can be SOLD, like that house.
What other ways are there?
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| Morgan Mandel |
Killer Career is 99 cents on
Kindle & Smashwords,
Also in print at $13.95
Forever Young-Blessing
or Curse coming soon.
Two Wrongs also to be
re-released at
99 cents on Kindle
& Smashwords.
I don't know that I can add any new ways to sell a book, but like a house, it must have "curb appeal." No weeds, fresh flowers, and updated front porch, no clutter on the sides, and no cracked driveway. Translation:no useless words and phrases, a new idea for a plot, the beginning fresh and different, no trash to make readers cringe, and no holes in the plot.
Hey--this is good!
Celia
Nice analogy, Morgan. I think I'll go trim my e-book lawn and spread a little freshly baked bread aroma!
Cheers
Ruby
"Sold" is an awesome feeling!
Finally hit 'sold' after 11 years. Great post, Morgan!
Curb appeal - that's great, Celia!
Morgan
Hi Morgan,
That's a good analogy. There are so many good houses on the market going unsold, just as it is with books. Persistence, pricing, perfect presentation (wow! four P's!) will maximize the chances of both the home seller and the author.
Perhaps we also need just the right salesperson, be that a good agent, or ourselves cleaning up our act and approaching the right bloggers for a guest spot, using our own blogs and other social networking to get the word out that we have something for sale. Morgan is one of the bloggers who does a great job hosting authors.
Great post! I agree, there are many things we can do to get whatever it is "sold," but sometimes, sheer luck plays a factor too. :-)
-Vanessa
ABsoutely! Know your audience. Your audience will determine your best method of marketing yourself and your book out there.