Best Selling Authors - Trust the Process

Addressing the book marketing/promotion myths

My partner and I decided we needed to learn, understand, and implement a marketing and promotion program to create and execute campaigns to give our books and those of our clients the best opportunity to become a #1 bestselling new release and/or #1 best seller.

Why did we do this? After writing books that did not achieve what we hoped, we invested time, effort, and money to first understand the publishing/distribution/marketing business and second to develop a sustainable and repeatable program. We learned how to identify and overcome the landmines, myths and obstacles that negatively impact authors.

We tested the program on ourselves before offering it to clients.  We now have multiple bestselling books. In May of 2021 our Trust the Process – Book Marketing Program was offered to clients. How has that worked?

In the 22-month window from May 2021 to March 2023 our campaigns have produced 11 consecutive Amazon #1 bestselling new releases in multiple categories and two award winning books.

Our message to authors

So, you want to write a book. As hard as that is marketing/promoting and selling your book is even harder. The average for book sales is 250 copies. The author makes on average $500. Did you poured your heart and soul into writing a book for this? Don't you want more? What are you doing to make your book standout? Do you have a marketing/promotion plan BEFORE your book is finished? The sad fact is most authors do not have any type of marketing/promotion plan.

Let’s look at the facts:

·      200 million Americans say they want to publish a book.

·      Reports state that 4 million books are published every year in the US alone. That equates to 77,00 books published each week.

Let’s look at the myths:

Most authors mistakenly assume the publisher or editor or illustrator or writing coach will do the marketing. A publisher’s job is to get the book finished and ready to be released. They do not run marketing campaigns.  Most authors do not have the expertise or the time to create and execute a comprehensive marketing and promotion campaign.

Most authors do not understand the steps for a book to go from idea to a finished product. Here are the eight common steps to get a book from idea to a product. Note: none of the eight include marketing and promotion of the book.

1.    Write the book

Start with an idea or a concept. It is best to start with something you know. Most author think this is hardest part of the process. It’s not. This is just step one.

2.   Edit the book
The author tries to edit the book. Editing what you wrote does not go well. Authors see what they intended to write not what is on the page or computer screen. Most books will need a line and copy edit.

a.    Line Editing is focused on the content, style, and language used within the manuscript.

b.   Copy Editing is focused on making sure a piece of writing is accurate, clear, and correct.

3.   Proofreading
Review the manuscript for corrections. This may require two or more rounds of editing.

4.   Final Proofreading

Review the entire manuscript plus interior formatting review and confirm proof.

5.   Manuscript Review

Author approval or comments and corrections. This may occur two or more times.

6.   Book Design and Cover
Design of front and back cover with author’s approval

7.   Publishing the book

Self-publish or contract publishing

8.   Distribution of the book
This is order fulfillment not marketing or promotion. The author can do it themselves or contract with a publisher or use Amazon.

The publisher will market the book myth:

We just went through the eight commons steps in the publishing process. None of them include marketing and promotion. The publisher may write a press release or social media post. Publishers publish they do not market or promote.

In Penguin Random House/S&S antitrust trial it was revealed that out of 58,000 trade titles published per year, half of those sell fewer than one dozen books. LESS THAN 12 BOOKS!!!

I will post to my social media myth:

Large social media alone is not enough. While becoming a published author is a major ego boost, very few receive income or effectively leverage their book to expand their brand and business.  Social media followers do not equate to success. Never confuse activity with results.

Trust the Process – Book Marketing Program

While no campaign can guarantee a #1 bestseller, our campaigns dramatically improve the odds. They are a proven layered multi-step process to build a brand that will significantly increase exposure, awareness, authority, credibility and ultimately create multiple streams of revenue.

Consistency and frequency of the message matter. Everyone knows Coca Cola and McDonalds, yet every day we see their commercials. Our campaigns keep your message in front of the target market.

The key is to surround yourself with people who have been where you want to go. Many people, friends, family, colleagues, etc. will offer their opinions on how the author should release and or promote their book. Most have never created and executed a such campaigns. The secret to walking on water is to know where the rocks are! We will show you where the rocks are!

When does a campaign start

We start our campaigns before the book is finished. The best campaigns build a ground swell of demand before the book is released.

Three stage campaign

Our base level campaigns have three stages.

1.    “Priming the pump” in anticipation of the book(s) launch.

2.    Launch campaign

3.    Post launch follow-up

Are you ready to take control of your marketing/promotion?

Ask yourself this question, who has created and executed marketing and promotional campaigns that have achieve 11 consecutive #1 bestselling titles and two award winning books in 22 months.

Magic happens when people Trust the Process. Message Melissa Van Oss or Frank Zaccari on LinkedIn.