Posts Tagged ‘Book Review’
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
In February I was in the Denver airport waiting for a flight. As usual I couldn’t resist browsing the bookstore shelves. Something about the book Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah caught my eye. So, on impulse, I bought the book and began reading it on the plane. I learned a lot about this phenomenon called social marketing and thought that it would be a great book for all authors to read. But I never got around to writing a review!
The solution to this came yesterday when my friend Randy Ingermanson posted a review of the book as part of his Advanced Fiction Writing e-zine. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, you owe it to yourself to subscribe to this free resource at advancedfictionwriting.com. And while you are there, read ALL of the past issues. In a short while you will receive a wonderful education!
Randy agreed to let me reprint his review of this book. He said the book had been recommended to him by Thomas Umstattd (authortechtips.com). Which goes to show, in a small way, how word-of-mouth sells books!
Let me step aside and let Randy’s review speak for itself:
The biggest mistake that I see authors making in marketing their book is based on the idea that “marketing is all about me.”
It isn’t, except in the very rare cases where the author is a celebrity, in which case the quality of the writing doesn’t matter. If Bill Clinton or Mother Teresa or Albert Einstein wrote a novel, it would fly off the shelves, whether it was any good or not.
Most novelists aren’t celebrities, and so we need to market our books, not ourselves. (If you do that well enough, you’ll become a celebrity and THEN you can market yourself.)
The second biggest mistake I see authors making in marketing their book is based on the idea that “marketing is all about my book.”
It is and it isn’t.
It is, in the sense that the success of a book depends in some way on its perceived quality in the market.
It isn’t, in the sense that you don’t persuade people that you have a great book by telling people, “I have a great book.” The problem is that “telling” doesn’t work any better in marketing than it does in fiction. “Show, don’t tell,” is a good maxim in marketing, just as in fiction writing.
What works in marketing is to show people that you have a great book, instead of telling them.
How do you do that? That’s what makes marketing hard. I recently read a book that gives you a strategy for doing exactly that.
The title of the book is Inbound Marketing. The subtitle is “Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs.”
Be aware that Inbound Marketing is not about marketing fiction. It’s a general-purpose book on marketing and it’s all about using the internet to get found by customers who are interested in your product, rather than trying to go out and find customers and persuade them to be interested in your product.
Traditional advertising methods are “outbound marketing.” You buy time on TV or radio or you buy space on a billboard or a newspaper or a magazine and you shotgun out a message about your widget and you just hope that people who want widgets happen to see or hear your message just at the time when their desire for a widget is causing them to pull out their wallets.
Outbound marketing is horribly inefficient, because the vast majority of people don’t give a flip about widgets and they get annoyed when somebody makes an unwanted sales pitch about their great widget.
If you don’t want a widget, you don’t want a widget.
Outbound marketing can never change that.
“Inbound marketing” is all about making it easy for customers who already want a widget to find the best widget-makers. It’s far, far easier to sell a widget to a customer who wants one that to a customer who doesn’t.
The internet makes it fantastically easy for anybody to find a widget. Google will find you all the most popular pages about widgets. Blogs will give you a wide range of opinions on which widgets are good and which ones suck. Facebook and Twitter will give you comments by real-live widget users, happy or unhappy. LinkedIn will connect you to the leading experts in widget making. YouTube will show you videos of people using widgets, mocking them, or in some cases, blending them to bits. Amazon will show you all the current books on widgets. Wikipedia will tell you how to make your own widget.
The book Inbound Marketing explains all the strategic principles needed to help you get found by hungry customers who want the widget you happen to make.
The tools customers use to find widgets are constantly changing. What doesn’t change is that you can’t make people come to you by using the old outbound marketing methods with these new tools. Building a brochure web site is outbound marketing. Writing a blog in which you constantly pitch your book is outbound marketing.
Flogging your book on Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn or YouTube is outbound marketing.
Inbound marketing, by contrast, is all about creating what Seth Godin calls “REMARKable content” — content that’s worth remarking on. I have traditionally called this simply “great content”. I like Seth’s term because it gets to the core of the matter. If people are remarking about your product, then they are creating word of mouth.
And that’s the key for novelists. Just about everybody in publishing agrees that the most powerful force in the marketing universe is word of mouth. If you can get people talking about your book, and if they like it, then your marketing job is done. (If they don’t like it, your book is toast, but we’re assuming here that your book really is a great piece of work.)
The book Inbound Marketing explains the strategic principles of creating REMARKable content and then making it findable. Understand that this is not a tactical book. If you want tactics, then look for one of the popular Dummies books on SEO, Facebook, Twitter, Podcasting, or whatever particular tool you want to use.
Tactics are great, because they teach you HOW, but I always believe in learning strategic thinking first, because it teaches you WHY. Once you know WHY, learning HOW is a cakewalk because you’re motivated to work through all the details.
Inbound Marketing is, in my opinion, a REMARKable book.
The authors have succeeded in getting me to remark on it here. The reason is simple. They’ve given me a number of good ideas that I’ll be putting into practice on my own web site.
If you’d like to know more, here’s an easy link to the Amazon page for Inbound Marketing:
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com/blinks/inbound.php
Full disclosure: The above link contains Randy Ingermanson’s Amazon associates code, which will earn a referral fee if you click on it and then buy the book. Randy only make referrals to books that he likes, but if you prefer that he earn no referral fee, then feel free to go direct to Amazon and search for Inbound Marketing.
Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, “the Snowflake Guy,” publishes the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, with more than 20,000 readers, every month. If you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction, AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND have FUN doing it, visit http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com.
Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.
Tags: Book Review, Facebook, Marketing
Posted in Book Review, Marketing | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
This is one of my favorite times of the year. The Christmas glow is still present and since the publishing world is, in essence, on vacation, it is a perfect time to to reflect on the past twelve months.
This was a hard year for many as the economy touched everyone in some way. And yet, despite the ominous cloud of doom and gloom, there were many exciting things to celebrate.
On a personal level our middle daughter was married at the end of June. What a joy to see God at the center of the ceremony. And our oldest daughter had a blast playing keyboards for Alice Cooper (singing “School’s Out”) in front of 50,000 people at the ASU graduation ceremony in May.
On a professional level we had some authors receive wonderful recognition:
- Susan May Warren won the RITA award for best inspirational fiction.
- Margaret Daley won the Holt Medallion award for best short inspirational novel.
- Both Tracey Bateman and Marlo Schalesky won the Christy Award for best Christian fiction in their respective categories.
- John Olson, Pamela Tracy, and Sharon Hinck won four ACFW Book of the Year awards (Sharon won for two different titles).
- I was honored as the Agent of the Year at the ACFW banquet in September.
- Cindy Woodsmall was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and hit #24 on the NY Times bestseller list. She was also featured in segment on Nightline.
- Ellie Kay was featured in two separate segments on ABC’s “Nightline”.
But even more exciting is to see a finished book in print. There is such a long time from idea to contract to writing to publication that we can forget the “birth” itself! Therefore I would like present a list of books published in 2009 by authors represented by The Steve Laube Agency. It is really great to see this list all in one place and to think of the hundreds of thousands of readers who have been inspired by these words. It is truly a privilege to work for such incredible writers.
The books are grouped by fiction, children’s/YA, and non-fiction. They are listed in approximate order of their release starting with January. (Note that in some cases we represented only one of the co-authors or collaborators.)
FICTION
The Someday List – Stacy Hawkins Adams (Revell)
Daddy for Keeps – Pamela Tracy (Steeple Hill)
According to Their Deeds – Paul Robertson (Bethany House Publishers)
City of the Dead – T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing Group)
Play it Again, SAHM – Meredith Efken (Steeple Hill Cafe)
Insight – Deborah Raney (Steeple Hill)
If Tomorrow Never Comes – Marlo Schalesky (Multnomah)
Road to Nowhere (paperback release) – Paul Robertson (Bethany House Publishers)
Everybody’s Suspect in Georgia – Cecil Murphey (Barbour Publishing)
Yesterday’s Embers – Deborah Raney (Howard Books)
Nothing But Trouble – Susan May Warren (Tyndale)
Miss Match – Sara Mills (Moody Publishing)
Enduring Love – Bonnie Leon (Revell)
Certain Jeopardy – Jeff Struecker with Alton Gansky (B&H Publishing Group)
Breathe – Lisa Bergren (David C. Cook)
Above All Things – Deborah Raney (Steeple Hill)
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Allison Bottke (David C. Cook)
Worth a Thousand Words – Stacy Hawkins Adams (Zondervan)
Return Policy – Michael Snyder (Zondervan)
The Enclave – Karen Hancock (Bethany House Publishers)
The Great Christmas Bowl – Susan May Warren (Tyndale)
The Hope of Refuge – Cindy Woodsmall (Waterbrook)
Meltdown – Chuck Holton (Multnomah)
Sweet Waters – Julie Carobini (B&H Publishing Group)
Fugitive Family – Pamela Tracy (Steeple Hill)
The Sound of Sleigh Bells - Cindy Woodsmall (Waterbrook)
Bride Backfire – Kelly Hake (Barbour Publishing)
Thirsty – Tracey Bateman (Waterbrook)
Blessed (paperback release) – Lisa Bergren (Berkley)
Guardian of the Flame – T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing Group)
Christmas Lamp – Lori Copeland (Zondervan)
Powers – John B. Olson (B&H Publishing Group)
Christmas Peril: Merry MayhemYule Die – Margaret Daley & Debbie Gusti (Steeple Hill)
Clandestine Cover-up – Pamela Tracy (Steeple Hill)
CHILDREN’S / YA
Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court - Chuck Black (Multnomah)
Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione (AUDIO) – Chuck Black (Oasis Audio)
Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court (AUDIO) – Chuck Black (Oasis Audio)
Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart – Chuck Black (Multnomah)
God Found Us You - Lisa Bergren (HarperCollins)
God Gave Us Love – Lisa Bergren (Waterbrook)
NON-FICTION
Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight – Karen Linamen (Waterbrook)
How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I’m Surrounded by Loose Cannons? – Kathi Macias (New Hope)
The Life of A.W. Tozer: In Pursuit of God – James Snyder (Regal Books)
The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship - A.W. Tozer, edited by James Snyder (Regal Books)
Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith – Jewell Powell (Revell)
Thrive, Don’t Simply Survive – Karol Ladd (Howard Books)
The Jesus of the Bible – Stephen M. Miller (Barbour Publishing)
Life on Planet Mom – Lisa Bergren (Revell)
American Heroes: In the Fight Against Radical Islam – Oliver North and Chuck Holton (B&H Publishing Group)
Reclaiming Christianity: A Call to Authentic Faith – A.W. Tozer, edited by James Snyder (Regal Books)
Your Jesus Is Too Safe: Outgrowing a Drive-Thru, Feel-Good Savior – Jared Wilson (Kregel)
The Diseasing of America’s Children (paperback release) – John Rosemond (Thomas Nelson)
When God Takes Too Long (Book & DVD package) – Joseph Bentz (Beacon Hill)
LT & Me: What Raising a Champion Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Listening to Your Dreams - Loreane Tomlinson with Ginger Kolbaba and Patti Britton
The Little Book of Big Savings – Ellie Kay (Waterbrook)
And He Dwelt Among Us: Teachings from the Gospel of John- A.W. Tozer, edited by James Snyder (Regal Books)
Thrive: Dare to Live Like God- Kevin Johnson (Zondervan/Youth Specialties)
Soar: Sail into God’s Plan for Your Future – Kevin Johnson (Zondervan/Youth Specialties)
Follow: Walk in the Rhythm of Jesus – Kevin Johnson (Zondervan/Youth Specialties)
Think: Figure Out What You Believe and Why – Kevin Johnson (Zondervan/Youth Specialties)
Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy – Leslie Vernick (Harvest House )
The Well Behaved Child: Discipline That Really Works – John Rosemond (Thomas Nelson)
God is Great, God is Good: Why Believing in God is Reasonable and Responsible – William Lane Craig and Chad Meister, general editors (IVP)
Tags: Book Review, Publishing, Writing
Posted in Publishing | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Periodically I plan to recommend a title or two for you to read. I’ve always enjoyed this form of “word-of-mouth” marketing, thus I will “pay it forward.” 
Yesterday afternoon I received James Scott Bell’s The Art of War for Writers: fiction writing strategies, tactics, and exercises (published by Writer’s Digest Books). With interest I took the book home and devoured it. Not literally of course, as I’m not sure what the pages would have tasted like with extra cheese. But I could not keep from turning the pages with delight.
James Scott Bell has done an immeasurable service to writers everywhere. This little book is chock full of sage advice. Loosely based on the ancient classic The Art of War he consistently nudges the reader with nuggets of wisdom that are hard to assail.
The book is flooded with amazing quotes. I kept saying to myself, “Oh that’s a good one, I’ll have to use that in my next presentation.” But after saying that a dozen times in only a few pages I began to to realize the extraordinary wealth found in this book.
While the subtitle indicates the book is written with the novelist in mind the information is universal. Every non-fiction writer can glean much from these pages too.
I was also impressed with the interior design. The publisher went to great lengths to make the reading experience enjoyable. A deft use of two color printing creates accents in all the right places. And the page layout is easy on my old eyes. Thank you Writer’s Digest for an example of top drawer publishing.
Whether you are a novice or a published veteran in the industry there is something for you. The novice should return to the book again and again and practice what they have read! The experienced writer will find a great refresher course in ideas, but can also glean new insights to common problems.
In full disclosure, the author is a friend. We have taught at numerous conferences together over the years. But he has no idea I’m writing this review. And I still like him even though he quotes another agent in the book! Frivolity aside, I can, with full confidence, attest that Jim is the real deal. He has a teacher’s heart and truly wants to do whatever he can to help others succeed.
Do yourself a favor. Buy this book right now! Or put it on your Christmas wish list. It is reasonably priced (retail only $14.99 for 264 pages!)
All three online stores below have the book discounted for under $11.00 (as of the posting of this blog). Such a deal!
Writer’s Digest Books
Barnes & Noble
Amazon.com
Tags: Book Review
Posted in Book Review, Writing | 19 Comments »
