steve harrison

How to write and market your book simultaneously

4/27/2012 By Joan 2 Comments

Mistake #1 Made by Many Authors:

They wait until their books are written to figure out the target market.

Mistake #2:

They give no thought whatsoever to marketing the book until it’s printed.

How do I know?

Because over the years, several hundreds authors have called me for help when they can’t sell their books. The first question I ask is, “Who’s the target market for your book?”

Often, this is what I hear: “My Aunt Sally loves the book and says she thinks everybody should read it. So I guess the answer to your question is everybody.”

Dear author, you’re saying, then, that you want your book to compete with every other book out there? And you’re tying up, in some cases, several years writing, rewriting, editing and proofing, yet you have no idea who should buy it? And you don’t know how to craft a specific sales message to a targeted audience?

Learn to Spin Two Plates at Once

You need to force yourself while you’re writing your book to figure out the many ways you’re going to market it. By working on the marketing and the writing simultaneously, you will end up writing a better book.

By forcing yourself to think about how you’re going to sell the book, you’ll end up improving the content. In fact, I compiled this list of 10 questions you should ask before writing your book.

Spinning two plates at the same time is particularly important if you’re hoping to lure a major publisher. And every publisher will want assurances that your book will sell. They also want to know that you’re willing and able to shoulder a major part of the publicity effort, even though their publicist will be working on your behalf for about six months.

Let Peggy McColl Help

Author Peggy McColl teaches the “market and write simultaneously” trick to authors. Peggy really knows how to sell books. She has catapulted her own book to the Amazon, Barnes & Noble and New York Times Bestseller Lists.

She has an ingenious yet simple, five-step formula any author can use to make their book a bestseller at almost no cost. She has used it to generate $35,618.52 in sales the very first time out of the gate.

She’ll explain it during a free 90-minute webinar (or telephone seminar) at either 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 3, when Steve Harrison interviews her on “How to Make Your Book a Bestseller Even If You’re a Marketing Novice. Register here.

You’ll hear why her method works for all types of books, fiction or non-fiction, regardless of subject including self-published, POD, ebooks, newly-published—even those that have been out for years.

Peggy will also discuss Facebook pages, and why you need your own page just for your book. As for selling your book on Amazon, learn the big mistake most publishers make on that site.

I promote this free webinar as a compensated affiliate because I dislike hearing from sad authors who don’t know their target market, and can’t park in their garages because of stacks of cardboard boxes filled with books they can’t sell.

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers Tagged With: Author Promotion, best-sellers, book marketing, how to write a book, peggy mccoll, steve harrison

Author U Extravaganza May 3-5 has all-star lineup

4/10/2012 By Joan Leave a Comment

When I attended Judith Briles’ Author U last year as a presenter who taught authors how to use social media to promote their books, I practically filled a notebook while seated in the audience listening to the other speakers. It was a lineup of the best of the best in the publishing industry.

This year promises to be no different. If you’ve written a book, you’re in the process of “birthing” one, or you’re just thinking of writing one, Denver is the place to be May 3-5. Briles puts on one heck of a conference.

Here’s the lineup:

Florrie Binford Kichler will forecast what’s happening in the indie world.

Publicity expert Steve Harrison, who hosts the National Publicity Summit and the Quantum Publicity workshops, will explain how to get every producer to call you.

Brian Jud will speak on how to market fiction, from craft fairs to summer festivals.

Social networking expert Georgia McCabe will give dozens of tips for promoting your book in social media.

Marty Dickinson will show you how to take your book to the next level with Google+.

Mobile marketing expert Mary Barnett will help you create a marketing platform with your phone.

Nick Zelinger will show you the latest trends in book design.

Dan Pacheco will share the inside secrets of why the Huffington Post and the local Denver Post are selling gazillions of books and how you can immediately implement their techniques.

Janita Cooper will show you how to create audio and video from your books, and snazzy book trailers too!

Daniel Hall, the master of all things Kindle, will show you how to do it yourself whether you want to create an ebook from scratch, or convert a printed book.

Here are five more reasons you should consider attending:

1. All three days are packed with solid content. This is not a pitch fest.

2. They feed you. You get a continental breakfast and lunch Friday and Saturday, dinner Friday night, and dinner on Thursday for those who sign up for the special John Kremer dinner workshop.

3. You’ll find convenient electrical outlets at all the tables. So leave your 25-foot extension cord at home.

4. Wifi is free.

5. It’s well-organized. Briles didn’t miss one little detail last year.

Register here before it’s filled. I’m promoting Author U as a compensated affiliate because book writing and publishing is just too difficult to attempt on your own, without guidance from pros of this caliber.

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers Tagged With: author u, brian jud, dan pacheco, daniel hall, florrie binford kichler, georgia mccabe, janita cooper, John Kremer, judith briles, marty dickinson, mary barnett, nick zelinger, steve harrison

Authors: If publishers reject your book title, don’t give up

3/4/2012 By Joan 1 Comment

When Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield wrote their first “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book, they traveled to New York City to meet with about 12 publishers.

Their agent came, too. After two days of shaking hands and discussing the book, not one publisher was interested.

“They all said it was a stupid title,” Canfield said.

This was after the pair already had their share of challenges and disappointments. After three years of doing research for the book, they had compiled only 68 of the 101 stories they had set as their goal. But they persisted and eventually gathered enough stories to pitch the publishers.

Other Authors Might Have Shriveled

That two-day visit to New York might have devastated most other authors. But Hansen and Canfield stared rejection in the face and kept pitching the book. And pitching. And pitching.

In all, 144 publishers rejected it. They pressed on.

Finally, they found a small press called Health Communications in Deerfield Beach., Fla., that was interested. The rest of the story?

They’ve sold more than 500 million copies in their “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. Those include individual titles that target tight niches like country music fans, NASCAR fans, golfers, horse lovers, cancer patients, runners, new moms, scrapbookers, African-American women, and even prisoners.

What kept them moving forward?

That’s what Canfield will explain when Steve Harrison interviews him during a free 90-minute teleseminar on Thursday, March 8, at your choice of two times: 2 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Eastern. If you cannot attend, recruit someone to listen and take notes for you because Harrison seldom makes the replays available.

What You’ll Learn

Canfield will discuss things like:

What to do if you find yourself reluctant to aggressively market your work.
His advice if you need to make money within 30 to 60 days.
The two mindsets you need to create a bestselling book.
How to find someone to sponsor your book.
The “bypass marketing” strategy that made “Chicken Soup” a big hit.

I’m promoting this teleseminar as a compensated affiliate because I’ve seen too many authors quit after only one publisher has rejected them. Register here for “Jack Canfield shares How to Get where You Want to be as an Author/Speaker.”

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers Tagged With: book marketing, chicken soup for the soul, jack canfield, mark victor hansen, steve harrison

TV producers will share pitching tips Thursday

2/11/2012 By Joan Leave a Comment

You’d be amazed at the unsolicited junk that publicity-seekers send to TV shows where they want to appear as guests:

Bulky press kits
Books they’ve written (sometimes multiple copies for everyone on the staff)
Envelopes stuffed with marketing materials
Press photos
Press clippings
Long letters explaining why they want to appear on the show
Videos that show them speaking to the local Rotary Club
Even gag gifts accompanied by pitches that they think are clever, but fall flat

Guess where most of this stuff ends up? In the trash bin.

Why Producers Don’t Want This Junk

Producers are too busy to wade through mountains of materials. So the publicity seekers have nothing to show for it except crippling postage costs.

If producers and guest bookers don’t want THAT, what do they want?

For starters, they need to be pretty sure you’re going to be a compelling guest. That means not withering under the lights. Or upstaging the show’s host. Or telling long-winded stories that viewers don’t care about. Most importantly, they need to know that your story is interesting.

Four producers and guest bookers for major TV shows will tell you EXACTLY how to pitch them, when to pitch them and what—and what not—to send when they’re the guests on a webinar hosted by my friend, Steve Harrison, on Thursday, Feb. 16, at either 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Register here. Even though the wbinar is free, I promote it as a compensated affiliate because I think the very best way to know exactly what producers want is to hear them explain it.

You’ll learn lots of insider tips from those who book guests for ABC, NBC and CBS. They include:

Mariann Sabol, “Live with Kelly”
Tommy Crudup, “Rachael Ray”
Dan Fitzpatrick, “The Wendy Williams Show”

Stacy Rollins, Telepictures Productions
Others to be announced.

If You Can’t Attend

If the time is inconvenient for you, register anyway, and Steve will notify you when he hosts similar programs. Or recruit a friend or assistant to listen for you and take notes.

Filed Under: TV Publicity Tagged With: live with kelly, pitching tips, rachael ray, steve harrison, tv publicity, wendy williams show

Today last day for Publicity Summit discount–3 spots left

9/23/2011 By Joan Leave a Comment

Today is the last day to take advantage of a price break for attending Steve Harrison’s National Publicity Summit, Oct. 12-15, in New York City. Only three spots are remaining.

The price goes up by $1,200.00 after today, Friday, Sept. 23. Apply here.

Harrison is admitting 100 attendees who will get to personally meet over 100 top journalists/producers who do stories and shows for major media like: ABC’s The View, CNN, Fox News, Today Show, Woman’s Day, MSNBC, Live With Regis & Kelly, 48 Hours, Fox & Friends, ABC’s 20/20, USA Weekend, Dateline NBC, Inc., Health, Entrepreneur, Family Circle and many more top outlets.

All those media were represented at previous Summits. Most of them will be at next month’s event, along with producers and journalists from media outlets who will be attending for the first time.

“For the remaining 3 spots, we will consider all applications submitted through today,” Harrison said. “However, all things being equal, we’ll admit people in the order in which they applied. By the way, if you apply and for any reason I cannot accept you, I’ll give you a gift which will help you get more national media exposure.”

You’ll Learn How to Pitch

Harrison’s staff trains you so you can meet journalists face to face and pitch them with confidence.

After Rory Cohen, an expert in the psychology of success, attended the summit, she was booked on ABC’s “The View” and also got a cover story in Entrepreneur magazine. That created a snowball effect.

“After I was on The View, I was able to get booked on CNN, which then led to a four-page spread in People Magazine,” she said.

As a result of the summit, author Linda Franklin appeared on the “Today” show twice, Fox & Friends, Fox’s “Good Day New York,” Hallmark Channel’s “New Morning,” and in MORE magazine, Essence Magazine, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Sentinel, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, MSN.com, The Huffington Post and at least 25 radio stations throughout the U.S.

Full Disclosure: I am a compensated affiliate for this event and for any other products and services you buy from Harrison.