How do I get book signings?

Please don’t laugh; my answer might shock you.

You have two options:

• You pick up the phone
• You drive to the book store

I know this sounds simplistic, but believe me, once you’ve tried, it’s quite easy.

• The secret is to be confident and come across as a pro.

Here’s how I do it. I start off with a small intro, and brag a little.

“Hello, my name is Sonia Marsh, and I’m a local author. I was interviewed on the front page of the OC Register, and my memoir was mentioned as a “hot read” in OC Metro. Who do I speak to regarding a book signing at your store?”

• I never tell them I’m indie-published, and they never ask.

Depending on the response, I either e-mail the person in charge, or set a date to drop off some books and sign the consignment form.

My e-mail consists of a similar introduction, short synopsis of my book with links to my press kit+videos,  reviews, and a short bio.

Whenever I have time, I stop at indie bookstores  and introduce myself. I ask for the manager, and compliment them on their store and ask if they would like to keep some copies of my book on consignment. So far, I’ve had no problems leaving copies at various book stores in California, and booking events.

Barnes and Noble, stores are more difficult to get into, unless you started your own publishing company and can therefore offer them the 55% discount rate they “expect” and make the books returnable. This I did thanks to  Linda Austin, and the advice she gave to our Facebook group (please join us) for all indie authors and writers at “Gutsy Indie Publishers.” She has put together several helpful documents on her site’s resources page.

• I believe the purpose of book signings is to meet people, and not just to sell.

At my last book signing at Chaucer’s, a beautiful book store off State Street in Santa Barbara, I only sold one copy, but I still considered it worthwhile.

Unfortunately, I picked the worst rainstorm night to do a signing, however, here’s why I consider it a success.

Two wonderful authors, and workshop leaders, Marla Miller, and Marcia Meier, whom I met several years ago at other conferences, showed up and we chatted and brainstormed about writing, publishing, promotion, events, contests, etc.

Chaucer’s Books has amazing staff, including Erik and Scott.

• It’s all about word-of-mouth, and I met 3 women who wanted to share my story with their friends, and took several bookmarks
• I met the co-founder of OneSpiritDancing.org, a man who purchased my book and shared the purpose of his organization with me which is:

“OneSpiritDancing connects women, children and teens in rural West Africa with their counterparts here in the United States. By focusing on movement, song, dance, communication and leadership skills.”

Since I lived in West Africa, and have a desire to help, this was such an unexpected chance meeting.

• You never know what new contacts may lead to in the future.
• Chaucer’s book events are advertised on a local Santa Barbara radio station for several days, and mention the author’s name and book.
• Chaucer’s event planner, advertises the event in local papers.
• I can always ask for another event when it’s sunny.
• I  stopped at Apostrophe Books in Belmont Shores on the way to Santa Barbara to was asked to leave some books on consignment.
• My son is at UCSB, so I managed to have lunch with him.
• Chaucer’s sold some books before my event and kept 5 extra copies.
• I never get tired of meeting people, and sharing stories.

What about you? How do you get book signings? Have you tried?

 ***

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®” and get published in our Anthology. Please contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our first  February’s 2013 story by Sandra Bornstein, our second by Anne Loney, and our 3rd by Diane Danvers-Simmons

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

How do I sell my book? I want to make money now?

So you’re anxious to make money but acting desperate is not the way to sell books.

What if I told you that you should not focus on  “making money” but on building relationships instead, would you think I’m crazy?

Just like finding the “right” guy—I’m speaking to the single ladies out there—acting desperate is a turn-off. You don’t want to beg and grovel, but you want to come across as proud and confident of your “product”. Oops, did I say, “product?”

So my first question to you is:

Are you proud of your book, I mean really proud? Is this a book you could pitch to the President of the United States, or the first lady with excitement and passion in your voice?

If your answer is “yes,” then I have good news for you:

When you have a great “product” and believe in your work, you can sell it, why? Because it will sell itself.

According to a panel of agents on Barbara DeMarco Barrett’s show “Writers on Writing,”

Indie-published authors have to set the bar higher than traditionally published authors. They have to go “high-end” with their book covers, and their book must be perfectly edited.

These agents pointed out the importance of having an amazing cover and that there are no excuses for a book cover that looks self-published.

I agree with the agents and outsourced my book cover and formatting to a professional company that specializes in book design. I’m proud to recommend 1106 Design.

Now you can move on to the following.

The key to sales is not just one thing, but a mixture of many, which I discovered in the The Frugal Book Promoter, by PR expert Carolyn-Howard Johnson

As she mentions in her book,

BIG WORRY NUMBER SIX: Fear of Marketing. The most pressing fear of all seems to be the fear of marketing.

Here is what I recommend for selling your book. Follow all 3 E’s

1. Enthusiasm
2. Effort
3. Entrepreneurship

We’ve all heard that “word of mouth” sells books, and I believe it starts with a grassroots approach. So how do you start?

The answer lies with connecting and caring about people, not just when your book is published, but long before that.

Develop friendships with:

• famous authors
• less famous authors
• editors
• agents
• fellow writers
• your local journalists (via social media)
• publicists
• bloggers
• book store owners
• and volunteer at your library, especially if they offer an author program
• volunteer at writers associations

Marketing is about getting to know people and developing meaningful relationships.

The more people you get to know, the more you can tap into your contacts and ask about:

• Speaking at various groups (libraries, networking groups)
• Get sponsors for your book signings and maybe even your book tour
• Ask your local coffee shops and other businesses if you can do book signings at their location.
• Help promote other businesses at the same time as your own events
• Helping others (for example giving a % of your book sales to libraries, to non-profits.)
• Attending events that interest you so you can meet new people and get ideas
• Contacting MeetUp groups online and asking if you can speak at their next meeting
• Start talking to people while standing in line at the supermarket, post office, you never know if they are in a book club etc.

One easy way, is to strike up conversations with people you meet and tell them about your book. Now I don’t mean being obnoxious and saying, “I wrote a memoir and if you go to Amazon you’ll find it.”

I live in a suburban area, and bump into people I know at the supermarket, coffee shops and my gym. I’m good at remembering faces, even after twenty years or so.

The other day, I shopped at Trader Joe’s and bumped into a lady I remembered from somewhere. With a smile, I pushed my shopping cart towards her and said, “Hi, where do I know you from?”

“The gym,” she replies.

“I haven’t seen you in a while, do you still go?”

“I changed to the Aliso Viejo gym,” she said, “I like their cardio equipment there.”

“What about you?” she asks.

“I still workout at the same gym, but I’m so busy now since my book was published.”

From there on the conversation turns to my book, what it’s about, and she asks me where she can purchase it, I hand her a bookmark and my business card, and say, “My e-mail is on my card, and I’d love to hear what you think of it.”

I admit, it’s been helpful to get media coverage as people respond better when I tell them I was interviewed on the front page of the OC Register and how my book was labeled a “Hot Read” in OC Metro.

I then ask whether she belongs to a book club, and how I am going to a book club on Friday evening and have another one next week.

“I love answering questions, so please contact me and I shall be happy to come to your club.”

One final piece of advice

Be Patient.

Now if you know me, you’re laughing your head off as I tend to want things done right away. My husband jokes that I’m one of the most impatient people he knows.

Finally, you can always hire a PR person to do the work for you, but you still need to be enthusiastic and interact with your readers, often at public events  if you want to sell books.

What has worked for you? Please share.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®” and get published in our Anthology. Please contact sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

VOTING for your favorite January 2013 “My Gutsy Story®” starts on January 31st, and ends on February 13th. The winner will be announced on February 14th. We have a new sponsor, Carolyn Howard-Johson, who is offering her e-book as a prize: The Frugal Editor.

Please check out the following January “My Gutsy Story®”

• Mary Gottschalk
• Christine Lewry
• Michael Jay

Next Monday, we have Linda Joy Myers “My Gutsy Story®”