Small Press Month, Tip # 7

March 7 - If your titles are set up for sale through Amazon Advantage, make sure you take advantage (no pun intended) of all of their bells and whistles, including their Search Inside feature. It's a great way to allow people to search within your book to get to know it a little better before making a purchase. No need to worry about potential customers reading the entire book online and then not buying it -- this feature only allows viewers to see the front and back covers, as well as the first few interior pages. It's well worth your time to set this up, and it's free!

Small Press Month, Post # 6

March 6 - Create a sell-sheet (some call it a bibliographic data sheet, tip sheet, one-sheet).  Make sure you have information included that not only shows that you understand the industry, but that gives a buyer vital information about you and your book. If you have market information about the topic area that may spur sales later, mention it. (i.e. pending legislation, a controversial pending research study, forthcoming books that contradict yours, etc.) Your one-page sell sheet should include:

• Your book cover
• Your title and subtitle
• Complete description highlighting reader benefits
• Author bio and picture
• Marketing summary and audience information
• Endorsements, reviews, awards
• Book metadata: ISBN, Pub Date, BISAC category, page count, features (pictures, index, resources, etc.)
• Distributors/wholesalers
• Your contact information - phone, website, email
• Ordering information

Some experts recommend including competitive titles and their sales information.  If you know facts about this, share them.

Small Press Month, Post # 5

March 5 - Send your book to your state's film commission. They are often looking for reference material, sites and other information for producers and film crews -- you never know what might catch their attention!  This is not for possible film rights... this is to sell lots of books when a film is being shot in or near an area mentioned in your book. (I've made nice clean sales of 500 books to film companies this way!)

Small Press Month, Post # 4

March 4 - Participate in silent auctions. Don't just donate a signed book -- put something related to your book with it. For example, when we donate the collection of books for a former war correspondent, we partner with a local restaurant and make the auction item "Lunch for two with John Hlavacek" or for our Las Vegas Mafia expert we call it "Cocktails and Mob Stories for you and three friends with Steve Fischer."  It's worth more to the auction if it is not just a bunch of books, and it gets your name out there with a little mystique.

Watch for events everywhere (should be 4-8 weeks away so you can be in the program), and do deliberate searches too. Google the words "Silent Auction" along with the topic, town and a month at least 1-4 months away. For example, my search today was "silent auction" teachers Orlando May 2011. Weed through your results, and you'll find ads for events that include silent auctions. Simply email the coordinator listed on their event information with your auction item, a snappy description and a value.

Yes, it's a little work, but lots of people will see your book during the auction, it will be in the program for the event as an auction item, you can tell your story to the winner AND you are helping a cause. Take pictures and post them on your social media sites. Remember though, the buyer is looking to be entertained, not bored to tears! (Oh yeah, your donation is tax deductible!)

Small Press Month, Post # 3

March 3 - If you've written a memoir, family history, biography, autobiography, history book (even for historical fiction), or any other type of book that notes people, places or things related to a geographic area: send a copy to the historical society in any and all cities, counties or states you have mentioned. They will usually send you a letter telling you that the book has been officially entered into the historical records of that entity. Then in your marketing materials, make sure you mention that it is included in the historical collections of the state (or county or city).

Small Press Month, Post # 2

MARCH IS SMALL PRESS MONTH: Here are 30 days and 30 ways to promote your book:

March 2 - Create an "elevator speech." When someone asks you about your book, don't start with "Well, it's a long story..." An "elevator speech" is a sound bite that you can give quickly in the time it takes you to go from one floor to the next in an elevator! Make it clear and concise -- and short! And then SHHHH

Small Press Month, Post # 1

MARCH IS SMALL PRESS MONTH: What follows will be 30 days and 30 ways to promote your book during Small Press Month. Here's yesterday's:

March 1 - Make sure your Amazon product listing is up to date. You should have: Search Inside, an author page, reviews and testimonials, and a book video trailer (if possible).