by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book, Speaking Gigs
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Book publicity can change an author’s life. Don’t put off the most important part of publishing a book. Book marketing costs money but obscurity costs more!
Authors will often wonder what book publicity all about is and ask me about the benefits of marketing their book.
Here’s a list of 127 reasons authors should seek out book publicity.
1. An agent will ‘discover’ your book and offer to represent you.
2. Publicity is Free. Advertising costs money.
3. Your book marketing will spark ideas for new offerings.
4. You’ll get good (WOM) word of mouth advertising.
5. You’ll become the go-to author the media seeks out.
6. You’ll get new business because of all the publicity.
7. You’ll create positive energy generating more good book ideas while book marketing
8. Book publicity success will lead to loyal employees.
9. You’ll be a more driven, optimistic, and secure author.
10. Other authors will be blown away by your book publicity.
11. Book publicity will pay off because you’ll be able to work less.
12. Your book will inspire you to create another product or service.
13. Well-known TV shows will reach out to you because they’ve ‘heard of you.’
14. Readers will become loyal to you and demand you write more!
15. Demand for your services allow you to raise your prices.
16. Third party media endorsements will result in new business, speaking engagements.
17. Media stories about you will help your website show up first on internet searches.
18. Celebrities will be reaching out to you to learn more about your book.
19. Those who previously never paid attention to your book want to be your friend.
20. Random strangers come up to you and remember you as an author they saw on TV.
21. Your Amazon.com orders will skyrocket.
22. Your book publicity will help you create a name for yourself in politics.
23. New found ‘fans’ will ask you for your autograph.
24. Your book promotion will turn into sales.
25. The online ads for your books will lead to sales and consulting deals.
26. You’ll get more inquiries for your business or practice.
27. Your book marketing will spread across the Internet
28. Your employees will be proud of working with you.
29. Legislation that you initiate or inspire gets enacted.
30. When the economy gets tough, your book will keep you thriving.
31. You’ll be invited to prestigious events
32. Customers will gladly buy your book.
33. Book buyers will ask for your book in stores.
34. You can charge a higher price for your books
35. Since people are pre-sold about you and your book they’re predisposed to work with you.
36. Book publicity is more credible and therefore more believable than a paid ad.
37. Media outlets will reach out and offer your book more free publicity.
38. You may have the opportunity to write a syndicated column about your book
39. You may get paid keynote speaking engagements.
40. Book deals will come to you.
41. Your book will be purchased by a major company for promotional purposes
42. Your compensation as an author will grow over time.
43. Book publicity will help you become well-known in your specialty.
44. You’ll get your own TV or Radio show.
45. Those who were skeptical about your book now own it.
46. Big-name media outlets will feature your book.
47. You’ll make $$$ speaking about your book.
48. Your book publicity will help you brand yourself.
49. Major magazines will feature you and your book on their front covers.
50. Your book will become so popular that it’ll be time for you to host a radio show.
51. Framed articles about you and your book will decorate your office
52. Articles about you and your book will get shared all over Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter etc.
53. Well-known personalities will endorse YOU!
54. Your book promotion will pay off because you’ll buy your dream home.
55. Your writing techniques will be taught at schools globally.
56. Your book will create a business big enough to franchise.
57. People will be inspired and positively impacted by your book.
58. Significant mistakes will be prevented thanks to your work as an author.
59. Issues you discuss during your book publicity will be taken seriously.
60. Those who appreciate you and your book want to be in your company.
61. Lots of money will come your way when you act as a celebrity endorser.
62. You’ll make money when ideas from you book are licensed.
63. Book groupies will follow all of your public appearances.
64. You’ll be flooded with bulk book orders by organizations who love what your book.
65. Your message becomes part of the lexicon of the language.
66. Major stores will want to sell your book to their customers.
67. You’ll get discounts from those who are interested in a business opportunity.
68. Promoting your books to international markets will be possible.
69. Your book promotion will motivate others to pursue their dreams.
70. The cause outlined in your book will receive grant money from foundations
71. Your family will admire your achievements and be inspired by your success
72. Your children will be inspired by your success.
73. Your closest friends will proudly brag about your book
74. Book promotion will be more fun than you think!
75. Once your book publicity efforts pay off, you’ll enjoy greater self-esteem.
76. Your book publicity success will inspire you to take better care of yourself
77. Others will view you as an author and expert.
78. You’ll have an edge over your competitors
79. Your customers will see your book solidifying a positive image.
80. Investing opportunities will come to you from venture capital companies.
81. Your success as an author will attract experts to help you.
82. People will take your advice to heart.
83. Your love life will improve as a result of the fame your book publicity has brought you.
84. Your name will be in the databases of TV & Radio producers and journalists.
85. Your book publicity will earn you various awards and nominations.
86. Your legacy will be as a successful author.
87. Other authors will covet your level of success.
88. Your book will be at the front and center at indie and big box bookstores.
89. A commencement speech at your alma mater will be offered to you.
90. Those who once looked down upon you as an author will now see you everywhere.
91. Other people will become passionate about the cause your book revolves around.
92. The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The New York Times name your book a BESTSELLER.
93. You’ll make more memories with your loved ones.
94. You’ll be a media darling and will be recommended as a “Great Interview.”
95. Your book publicity will connect you to people you would’ve never crossed paths with.
96. Your success as an author will give you more faith in yourself.
97. Your book publicity will lead you to earn an honorary doctorate degree.
98. Your debts will disappear thanks to the great results of your book marketing.
99. You’ll be outlived by the legacy you leave as one of the greatest authors.
100. You’ll get a ‘command’ performance by the President of The United States.
101. An early and wealthy retirement will be your option.
102. Words you invent for your book become household terms.
103. Your success as an author will allow you to achieve even more than you ever thought.
104. Your book could be turned into a movie.
105. You could get a deal to collaborate on a new book with a well-known author.
106. Your book will win awards at major book festivals.
107. You’ll be asked to sit on a panel of expert authors at writer’s conferences.
108. Your book will be required reading at universities worldwide.
109. People will buy your book to send to their Congressman.
110. A book award will be named after you and your book.
111. Your book will attract a global audience.
112. Young children will look up to your success as an author.
113. Aspiring authors will consider you their role model.
114. Traveling the world and marketing a book will become your reality.
115. Millions of people will follow you on Twitter.
116. Cruise ships will be calling you talk about your book.
117. The dream life of fame and fortune will now be yours.
118. Once you’re famous and don’t need it, Banks will want to loan you money.
119. A TV producer will want to collaborate on a new series on your book.
120. Your side of the story will be told to the public thus helping your lawsuit.
121. The U.S. Senate will ask you to testify about issues in your book.
122. New laws will be passed as a result of your book.
123. Book publicity is like a drug, the more you get the more you’ll want.
124. Your book publicist will work for free… (Ok that’s not happening!)
125. Marketing a book will become second nature to you.
126. You’ll accomplish what you’ve always wanted to do i.e. make money & get a movie deal.
127. The more book publicity you get the more publicity YOU’LL GET!
The Bottom Line: Book publicity can change an author’s life. Don’t put off the most important part of publishing a book. Book marketing costs money but obscurity costs more!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Hundreds and even thousands of years ago, it was essential for creative folks to recruit sponsors to help fund their masterpieces so they could succeed.
Things haven’t changed as sponsorships are still important for creative people, including writers. Writers continue to recruit sponsors and patrons to promote their books and help them earn a spot on the best-seller list without clearing all of their savings.
Kickstarter is an invaluable resource for authors who would like to raise some money for their books. It is a website that gives authors, musicians, app developers, inventors and others the opportunity to recruit people to support their creative project.
Kickstarter is a for-profit company that was created to support creative projects (for a 5% fee against the funds collected) because they believe creative projects make for a better world. Since its inception there have been hundreds of thousands of successfully funded projects for billions of dollars! Although the majority of projects raise less than $10,000, an increasing number have reached six, seven, and even eight figures.
Here’s how Kickstarter works:
Project creators join Kickstarter and set a funding goal and deadline. If people like their project, they donate money to support it. An author can use the money for publishing or distribution costs, to upgrade to a better distributor, or to pay for the costs of the book publicist hired to give your book the push it needs.
Kickstarter has an all-or-nothing policy that states you must reach your goal before receiving any money. However, don’t let this scare you because even if you don’t receive a penny, you can get your book in front of more readers and obviously, that’s never a bad thing.
I’m going to be frank here: The reality is that while many authors have benefited from Kickstarter, a lot of the campaigns flat out failed, especially when the creative person tried to run their own campaign without first researching what works or asking for professional assistance.
“Book publishing isn’t a huge portion of Kickstarter’s revenue — the “Publishing” and “Journalism” categories together account for just 9% of their successfully funded projects and 4% of the total money pledged. But the industry’s “outsize cultural impact” makes it critically important to the Brooklyn-based public-benefit corporation,” explained Adam Rowe, a Forbes contributor who discussed the conference in a recent Forbes article.
As a book publicist, I have been involved on both sides of a Kickstarter campaign and have witnessed how authors have used the platform to attain the funds needed to publish and promote a book. Let’s take a closer look at some Kickstarter author success stories.
Author Jen Marr of Washington DC used Kickstarter for her book, “Paws to Comfort”, a book designed for anyone who has ever felt awkward when reaching out to someone who is struggling. It empowers readers with simple tools and inspirational stories that can help them break through the awkward zone and become better comforters.
Her campaign received the support of 221 backers who pledged $33,819. The money raised went toward creating a manuscript, book production and delivery, and launch and promotion.
Art Brooks of Providence, RI is another example of an author who used Kickstarter to their advantage. His Kickstarter campaign is designed to support the “Star Wars The Vintage Collection Archive Edition”, a comprehensive historical manuscript and detailed visual archive of The Vintage Collection, one of Hasbro’s most popular lines of Star Wars action figures.
That campaign had 1,058 backers who pledged $133,887. Brooks offered various perks to backers who pledge a certain amount. For example, anyone who pledged $100 or more received one printed copy of The Vintage Collection Archive Edition book and one limited edition 24×36-inch The Vintage Collection compendium poster.
Believe it or not, there was a Kickstarter campaign for 9-year-old author MaKayla Rose Hubbs from Mantua, NJ. She wrote the book “Why Bedtime Sucks: The Opposite of a Bedtime Story.” The book begins with her witty objection to the various reasons she’s been told it’s important for her to get a good night’s rest. Her campaign had 124 backers who pledged $9,588. Anyone who pledged $10 or more will received an e-book as well as a downloadable coloring page.
These authors didn’t just get lucky and raise money for their books with minimal effort. Many of them were strategic in how they designed their Kickstarter campaigns and came up with incentives for pledgers. In order to attract pledges as an author, you can offer the following:
- Digital copies of your entire works if you have written three or more books.
- Autographed, limited edition copies.
- Free editing and critique of a donor’s draft writing
- A free review of a donor’s published book
- Your illustrator to draw an image of the donor to place in your book.
- An in-person meeting with the author for a formal English tea
- Mention of the donor’s business with a testimonial given by a character in the book
- A gourmet meal prepared by the author of a cookbook at the donor’s home.
If one of my clients decides to pursue a Kickstarter campaign, I’ll help them design an appealing message, create a great video, and promote their campaign outside of the Kickstarter platform.
Other Crowdfunding Options
Indiegogo: A crowdfunding website founded in 2008. One compelling feature, if you don’t reach your goal, you can still keep the funds pledged.
Ulule: This is the only international crowdfunding platform where the majority of projects get funded. It strives to empower creators and entrepreneurs.
The Bottom Line: If you’re an author looking for funding then check out how Kickstarter can pay for your book publishing and promotion.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, List of Speaking Opportunities, Speaker Services, Speaking Gigs, Ted Talks, TEDx List
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
A TEDx talk is another arrow in the quiver for authors to propel their book… or to get a book deal.
Scott Lorenz, Book Publicist
Learn about how a TEDx Talk can help you make it big as an author.
Technology, Entertainment, and Design or TED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading ideas in the form of short yet powerful talks. Since its inception in 1984, its talks have covered a plethora of topics such as science, art, business, global issues, and education.
TEDx is a program of self-organized events that brings people together to enjoy a TED-like experience. To sign up for and give a TEDx talk, you must obtain a TED license that states you have agreed to adhere to certain guidelines like no selling, religious proselytizing, or speaking about politics.
While TED talks take a global approach to a topic and must be hosted by experts, TEDx talks focus on a local community and can be organized by just about anyone. Believe it or not, there are many authors that have given TEDx talks and landed book deals as a result.
For example, Celeste Headlee spoke at TEDxCreativeCoast on “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation.” Her talk was viewed more than 14 million times and she was eventually contacted by an agent who helped her publish her book, “We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter.”
In addition, Mac Barnett, award-winning author of children’s books like “I Love You Like a Pig” and “Places to Be” spoke at TEDxSonomaCounty on “Why a Good Book is a Secret Door.”
If you’re interested in taking your career and book to the next level, getting involved in a TEDx talk may be a great idea. Here are dozens of TEDx talks around the country that you can apply to as an author.
1. TEDxWilmington: https://www.tedxwilmington.com/
2. TEDxPortland: https://www.tedxportland.com/
3. TEDxBoulder: https://tedxboulder.com/
4. TEDxMidAtlantic: https://tedxmidatlantic.com/
5. TEDxMileHigh: https://www.tedxmilehigh.com/
6. TEDxSanAntonio: https://tedxsanantonio.com/
7. TEDxFargo: https://tedxfargo.com/
8. TEDxCharlottesville: https://tedxcharlottesville.com/
9. TEDxUCLA: https://tedx.ucla.edu/
10. TEDxOshkosh: https://www.tedxoshkosh.com/
11. TEDxNashville: https://tedxnashville.com/
12. TEDx ManhattanBeach: https://tedxmanhattanbeach.org/
13. TEDxJacksonHole: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/22246
14. TEDxRapidCity: https://www.tedxrapidcity.com/
15. TEDxDetroit: https://www.tedxdetroit.com/
16. TEDxSonomaCounty: https://www.tedxsonomacounty.com/
17. TEDxCreativeCoast: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/14007
18. TEDxCharleston – https://tedxcharleston.org/
19. TEDxElPaso – https://www.tedxelpaso.com/
20. TEDxMolalla – https://tedxmolalla.com/
21. TEDxNatick – https://www.tedxnatick.org/
22. TEDxYouthWilmington – https://tedxwilmington.net/
23. TEDxYouthSanAntonio – https://tedxsanantonio.com/youth/
24. TEDx Tullahoma – https://tedxtullahoma.com/
25. TEDxNaperville – https://tedxnaperville.com/
26. TEDxStLouis – https://tedxsaintlouis.org/
27. TEDxHickory – https://www.tedxhickory.com/
28. TEDxWilmette – https://www.tedxwilmette.com/
29. TEDxSantaBarbara – https://tedxsantabarbara.com/
30. TEDxLaJolla – http://www.tedxlajolla.com/
31. TEDxCincinnati – https://www.tedxcincinnati.com/
32. TEDxWilmington – https://www.tedxwilmington.com/
33. TEDxJacksonville – https://tedxjacksonville.com/
34. TEDxMiami – https://www.tedxmiami.com/
35. TEDxPortsmouth – https://tedxportsmouth.com/
36. TEDxAtlanta – https://www.tedxatlanta.com/
37. TEDxBayonne – https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/53028
38. TEDxAlisoViejo – https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/11098
39. TEDxBocaRaton – https://tedxbocaraton.com/
40. TEDxProvidence – https://www.tedxprovidence.com/
41. TEDxSavannah – https://tedxsavannah.com/
42. TEDxKeyBiscayne – https://tedxkeybiscayne.com/
43. TEDxSugarLand – https://www.tedxsugarland.org/
44. TEDxGoshen – https://www.tedxgoshen.com/
45. TEDxAsheville – https://tedxasheville.com/
46. TEDxSanDiego – https://www.tedxsandiego.com/
47. TEDxPittsburgh – https://www.tedxpittsburgh.org/
48. TEDxRockville – http://www.tedxrockville.org/
49. TEDxMinneapolis – https://www.tedxminneapolis.com/
50. TEDxInglewood – https://tedxinglewoodca.com/
51. TEDxRochester – https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/53151
52. TEDxMarin – https://tedxmarin.org/
53. TEDxWarrenton – https://www.tedxwarrenton.com/
54. TEDxSaltLakeCity – https://www.tedxsaltlakecity.com/
55. TEDxDavenport – https://www.tedxdavenport.com/
56. TEDxOneonta – https://www.tedxoneonta.com/
57. TEDxHuntingtonBeach – https://www.tedxhuntingtonbeach.com/
Want a global list of TEDx events? Check out this interactive world map of TEDx talks: https://www.ted.com/tedx/events
If you do decide to participate in a TEDx talk, it’s important to listen and watch various talks so that you can get a feel for what they are like and what the audience expects to see. “TEDx presentations are an art form,” says Jess Todtfeld former TV producer for NBC, ABC and FOX-TV. “You have to deliver on the theme of the event and speak without notes. I help authors and experts fine-tune their talks to fit the TEDx style so they can crush the talk,” says Todtfeld.
Contact Jess at: https://www.successinmedia.com/ted-talk-training/
Also, when speaking in a TEDx talk, focus on one idea worth spreading, create a hook that grabs the audience’s attention and sparks their curiosity, and make sure you are clear and conversational. In addition, keep in mind that some TEDx talks require video applications or in-person auditions.
The Bottom Line: A TEDx talk can be a great opportunity to get yourself noticed as an author. It may be just what you need to land the book deal you’ve always wanted.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Reviews, Social Media
by Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
“Reviews are a third-party endorsement of your work. They give the potential buyer assurance the book they may buy is worthwhile.” Scott Lorenz, Book Publicist
“We are still trying to get reviews. It is worse than pulling teeth though. Unfortunately, I used up the reviewers I could threaten bodily harm to with my first book!” Exasperated Author
One of the most difficult things to do is to get people to read and review your book to help get the buzz going. How would you like to get your book into the eager hands of reviewers, bloggers, members of the media, librarians, booksellers, and educators before it was published? Ever wonder how some books have 50 reviews the day of publishing? Want to know the tricks of the trade? One way is through NetGalley and their 450,000 readers.
NetGalley is a service that allows authors and publishers to get reviews of their work before and after it is published. Members get galleys before others, read books digitally, share feedback, and become part of a reading community. There are also built-in benefits beyond the review, including advance promotion (more about that on their website: https://www.netgalley.com/
“What an author will get from NetGalley, but may not always welcome, are reviews that are about as truly independent as can be,” said Tom Barry, author of Saving Jay and When the Siren Calls. If you can’t handle the truth or someone’s version of the truth don’t do it!
“We work with over 400 publishers, indie authors and small publishers who are incorporating NetGalley into their marketing and publicity activities,” says Kristina Radke of NetGalley. We work in all genres, and the formats we support are ePub (converted to Mobi for Kindle devices and apps) or PDF.”
The reach is often beyond the NetGalley platform. “NetGalley does encourage its reviewers to post outside NetGalley, on places such as a personal blog, Amazon or GoodReads. It does not, however, guarantee or require this to happen,” says C.E. Kilgore, a self-published author of Science Fiction, Space Opera, and Contemporary Romance.
Check out The Science Fiction Writers Association who have a special rate with Net Galley. https://www.sfwa.org/what-is-sfwa/netgalley-application/
“NetGallians are not only strangers but staunch supporters of good fiction, like Templars defending a holy artifact,” says J.S. Leonard, author of Modern Rituals. “They care only to support excellent writing.” One thing Leonard discovered with NetGalley are his “superfans,” those individuals who read the book, love the book, and tell everyone they know.
“NetGalley is so huge, your books are getting listed next to some pretty big name titles, and that can sometimes do wonders at getting your book noticed. It’s a great chance to discover new authors and for authors to be discovered by new readers,” said Melissa Pearl, author of The Elements Trilogy.
“NetGalley is about marketing for authors/publishers, in addition to connecting with readers, and we have to keep in mind the game of trying to reach as many readers as possible,” said Keary Taylor, author of The Eden Trilogy, The Fall of Angels Trilogy, and What I Didn’t Say.
Corrin Foster of Greenleaf Book Group says that their publishing firm uses NetGalley for nearly every title that they publish as a way to reach active and influential reviewers. “The NetGalley community is fair and transparent with their reviews, responsive to collaboration, and an invaluable resource for generating early reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs, and social media which carry a lot of weight with general consumers. We value our relationship with NetGalley and their members very highly,” says Foster.
Some authors believe NetGalley is costly, but as a book publicist, I can attest to the fact that the cost of soliciting, shipping and following-up is pretty costly in terms of money and time too. Author C.E. Kilgore is concerned that the site has little reader/reviewer vetting process.
NetGalley admits this, but they believe that publishers and authors know best the readers who are most useful for them. When a reviewer requests a book, the author or publisher can accept or decline the request after reviewing their profiles. The price for a listing range from $399 to $599 for six months with the higher fee including a marketing boost and newsletter placement.
Want to save money? NetGalley works in partnership with the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association). They have a NetGalley program that makes it very easy for small and self-published authors to participate at a discount. Click here for more information: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/netgalley.
The Bottom Line: NetGalley is a great way to obtain pre-publish reviews and is yet another resource available to authors and publishers to reach a community of avid readers.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
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by Scott Lorenz | Audiobooks, Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing
Audiobooks are quickly becoming a popular method of “reading,” with estimated revenue reported at $2.5 billion for 2023 according to Publisher’s Weekly. Busy readers are opting to listen to their favorite books while jogging, driving, and even washing the dishes—usually on their smartphones. Most listeners are under the age of 45, but the numbers are increasing. Now with Spotify entering the market this will no doubt lead to more listeners and more accessibility to millions. As an author with a published book, you need to get in the game.
A lot goes into making an audiobook: you need a narrator, a sound technician, a good place to record, and distribution for the finished product. While hiring your own technician and recording studio can cost a lot, there are other ways— even free ones— to produce your own audiobooks.
Here are your options:
Complete marketplace production: This is probably the easiest and most cost-effective way to produce an audiobook. These marketplaces connect authors with narrators, engineers, recording studios, and others capable of producing a finished audiobook. Currently, the most popular is ACX, but more are popping up.
ACX has a “Royalty Share” option, in which the narrator does the reading with no fees in exchange for a cut of the royalties. It’s no upfront cost to the author and distribution is through top retailers Audible, Amazon and iTunes. The downside is ACX /Audible claims distribution rights to your book for seven years.
Voice actor Thomas Miller, who narrates books for author Frederick Dodson, has a love/hate relationship with ACX/Audible. “You almost need to use them because they control so much of the market,” he says. “But, as both an author and narrator, if you have other pipelines of distribution, you should think long and hard before you lock your book up for Seven. Long. Years.”
Other options are quickly popping up. New York Times best-selling author Colleen Gleason used ACX for the six books in her Heroes of New Vegas series. She was happy with her narrator and found the ACX interface easy to use. But when it came time to make audiobooks for her new Stoker and Holmes series, both she and her narrator switched to Findaway Voices.
Findaway Voices offers the same services as ACX, but upfront costs average $1000-$2000 for a 50K word book, or about $250 per reading hour for the narrator. The royalties are all yours and you aren’t locked into a contract of years, except with their distribution through Audible.
“I had such a good experience with Findaway, and they have such a broad distribution system that I ended up moving all of my six Heroes of New Vegas books to that platform as well,” says Gleason. “Audiobook usage is on the rise and users are increasing in double digits each year; I decided I wanted my books to be available to as many readers/listeners as possible. So for now, I’ll continue to use Findaway Voices for any future audiobooks I do.”
Find your own narrator: Some authors prefer to have celebrities read their books, which can add to the appeal to purchasers. But just because they’re famous, doesn’t mean they are qualified. You need to find out if they have narrated a book before. For every hour of reading, there are several hours of editing work that has to be done, so you want a smooth and qualified reader. “It was learning how to read well that took some time,” says Miller. “That’s where your 10,000 hours comes in. The one thing nobody estimates properly is editing time.”
There are other places where narrators are selling their talent. A thorough Google Search will reveal some sources. An inexpensive, although not necessarily fool-proof place to find narrators is fiverr. Some authors have found narrators through Suchavoice.
Remember, much of an audiobook’s success is tied to the narrator. Before you hire someone, listen to examples of their work, and give them a section of your own book to try. If yours is a work of fiction, pick a part with dialogue so you can see how they voice different characters. If it is nonfiction, be sure they lend the right authority to what you are trying to sell. Also, do you want a male or female narrator? Someone with a solemn voice or a perky one? These are all things to take into consideration.
Narrate your own book: William H. Coles, a prolific author, professor, and musician, has an extensive line of his own books that he narrated himself. “I believe, when possible, the best reading is by the author,” says Coles. “However, I think recording experience is necessary.” Coles has radio experience recording live air segments. He also hired the best sound technician he could find, which he attributes to his success. Coles’ most recent recording is a podcast, “Story in Fiction,” which has already surpassed 1000 downloads.
But self-recording isn’t for the faint of heart or the low-budget author. “There is a lot of time and energy spent, and I wouldn’t suggest any author lightly go through the process,” says Coles. “It’s much easier to hire a company that works with authors and/or hires an actor.”
Also, if an author is going to work alone, he or she will need an expert in distribution to get the audio books out to their market. Most of the marketplaces such as ACX and Findaway Voices have wide distribution. Kobo, Google Play and others have gotten into the audiobook market, and libraries find a large percentage of their borrowers request audiobooks now. Recently, Scribd has partnered with Waze so you can listen to your book in your car while your GPS leads you to your destination. Life has never been better for the voracious reader-on-the-fly.
Overall, making your books into audiobooks seems to be worth the effort and cost.
“The growing use of mobile devices for reading fiction makes it all worthwhile,” says Coles. Most authors would agree. The reach is even to the youngest kids. Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri will now read your books—or your children’s bedtime stories—aloud.
Amazon best-selling author Dan Milstein created an audiobook of his most recent business book Rule #1: Don’t Be #2. “With more readers turning to audiobooks, it’s a wise business investment and a great way to reach more readers who don’t have the time to sit down with a book in their hands,” says Milstein. “It makes sense to do it.”
Audiobooks stand on their own now as a medium. Forbes magazine calls audiobooks “THE publishing industry trend.”
The Bottom Line: Authors – It’s never been easier and more affordable to get an audiobook for your book. I encourage you to explore these options ASAP. Do it now!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
