MJ Rose's Marketing Tips

There's a great article in the August issue of Writer's Digest by MJ Rose, the bestselling author of nine novels including The Reincarnationist and co-author of two nonfiction books on marketing including Buzz your Book. The article, "After the Art," discusses some pretty grim stats: she recently polled 150,000 readers and asked about their bookstore experiences and buying habits. She says 60 percent of respondents said "the sheer number of books they were exposed to overwhelmed them." (I know how they feel. Steve and I walked into a Marble Stone Creamery recently, and I too was overwhelmed. So much so, I walked out of the store without making a purchase -- something Steve laughs about to this day.)

So what's a writer to do?

Presumably we all know we've got to step in and market our own books -- that the publisher's role has much diminished in this regard over the years. MJ says "There aren't many certainties in this business but this: No one thing sells a book. Not just big orders. Not just good placement. Not just terrific reviews. Not just a great cover. Hundreds of little things contribute to success. And you can do many of those little things yourself and yes, you can help your book."

Here are a few sentences from each of five tips (buy the mag to see the tips in their entirety):

1. BECOME EDUCATED. Buy this book: Publicize Your Book: An Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book the Attention It Deserves by Jacqueline Deval. Check out MJ's blog, Buzz, Balls & Hype.

2. TALK TO YOUR AGENT ABOUT YOUR PLANS. She can be your best advocate in fighting for your book, not just with editing and the cover, but with marketing and sales as well.

3. FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH OF YOUR ADVANCE YOU WANT TO ALLOCATE TO MARKETING YOUR BOOK AND HOW YOU SHOULD SPEND IT: ADVERTISING, PUBLICITY, A TOUR, ETC. No matter how much you want to spend -- don't spend it until you read number 4.

4. BECOME A MARKETING PARTNER WITH YOUR PUBLISHER. Ask your agent to set up a meeting with either your editor or the marketing department of the house or both so you can find out what they're doing, what they aren't, and what you can do to help.

5. SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO PUBLICATION START RESEARCHING OPPORTUNITIES ON AND OFFLINE THAT OTHER AUTHORS HAVE USED SUCCESSFULLY. Don't hire anyone without talking to at least a few clients who've been satisfied with the service.