You Get What You Pay For

 

For 25 years, I’ve been advocating for transparency in book publicity–a cornerstone of Books Forward’s culture since 2000.

It’s heartbreaking when authors come to us after their books have launched, sharing stories of disappointment with their initial publicity efforts. Many debut authors thought they’d hired the right experts, but were misled or let down. They ask if we can help get their campaigns back on track. While we do our best, it’s tough to fix an anemic publicity effort after a book has launched. Sometimes we can, but if we can’t, we’re always honest about that.

When you pay for a service, you are paying for the expertise, knowledge, contacts and creativity of a professional. Just as a lawyer charging $25/hour isn’t likely to be a Supreme Court litigator, or a $12 haircut isn’t coming from a top stylist, bargain-priced book publicity is unlikely to deliver the kind of buzz necessary to stand out in a market where more than 3 million books are published annually in the US.

There’s a reason that certain book publicity firms have clients who regularly hit bestseller lists and win major awards. Their value lies in their contacts, their ability to create compelling stories that the media wants to share, and their track record of securing stellar reviews. These qualities are built on years of experience, not shortcuts.

When you’re hiring a firm to represent your book–your blood, sweat and tears–ask tough questions. Be wary of “bargain basement deals” and understand what you’re truly getting for your investment. There’s a select group of highly sought-after publicists for authors who are serious about success, but they’re not a dime a dozen.

Great Clips is fine if you’re looking for a quick, generic haircut. But if you want to stand out , that’s probably not where you’re going. The same principle applies to book publicity: “Great Clips” prices will get you “Great Clips” results.

For all but a rare few authors whose books are “lead titles” for major publishers, the reality is clear: to rise above the noise of the other 8,000-plus books being released on the same day as yours, you must commit your resources–time, energy, and money–into promotion .

A top-tier book publicity firm will provide a detailed proposal outlining what they’ll do for you, how they’ll reach readers in diverse ways, how they’ll keep you informed about your campaign’s progress.

Their track record will show success with books like yours, along with insights into what works and what doesn’t…

Just as importantly, they’ll offer cutting-edge strategies developed by some of the most creative minds in the business.

Be deliberate when choosing a book publicity firm. Consider your budget of time, energy and money, and invest wisely in your book’s success

Julie Schoerke is the founder of Books Forward’s, an award-winning literary publicity company, and its sister publishing company, Books Fluent.

Some Common Fears We Writers Share.

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 The awesome co-hosts for the May 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

May 7 question - Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?

When I first started writing for publication, I could write “all of the above,” but that’s not true anymore. 

I don’t fear rejection. I just don’t like it.  When it happens, I find a safe place to hang out for a while, then I set out again.

morguefile

I haven’t failed because I'm still writing and publishing, so I can’t fear that. 

Too much success? Is that possible? 

But now we get to something that does keep me on the ropes. There are times I’m sure I’ll never write the story I want to because I don’t have the talent or ability, and I'll add knowledge because that's a huge chunk of what writing well is all about. I’m dealing with a lack of knowledge right now as I work on a new story that I want to write. 

morguefile

The problem is I keep running into barriers—gaps in what I know. My only recourse is to fall back on research, so I’m not making a lot of progress on the book, but my knowledge base has increased in several different areas: maritime research, cybersecurity, and Alaska. I've even learned how to make a wireless telegraph and a smoke bomb. You never know when you're going to need some of those.

I read a post by Jacqui Murray on research that inspired me to continue my efforts to learn as much about my topic as possible. You might enjoy reading her POST, if you haven't already.

If I manage to successfully combine all that I've learned into a cohesive story, I hope to come up with something that people will want to read. I'll probably be posting about this newest challenge for a while.

Now, I'm off to see how other members have answered this month's question. 

Have a wonderful May!