Marketing Help?

[kameeo]

Hi All,

My name is Alan and I am new to this forum. I recently wrote a book called [redacted] which speaks to my investment strategy for buying and selling stock options. Being that I am more of a financial guru than a marketing guy, I was hoping people in this forum would post some suggestions on how to promote the book. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[kork13]

I'm not sure what your budget for the book is like, but honestly, if you can afford it I would probably just recommend you seek out a marketing consultant/firm. They've devoted themselves to the creative task of making people want to buy a product. Their job is to make your book a success, so if it's a quality book, 9 times of 10 you'll be very happy with their work. A close family friend recently started a consulting business, and he mentioned that hiring a marketer has been the best thing to help his business get off the ground with a good customer base. The same would likely go with marketing a new book.

[Johansen8]

You could always promote it on the internet.

In the non-fiction market, a writer's credibility on the topic is essential. The agent wants to know what you are doing or have done to create that credibility. Basically you need to ask, "why should someone buy my prayer book over someone else's."

1. You need a website. In this day and age, it is essential.
2. Special appearances are part of the promotional effort. But even if you can't travel across the country, you can be available in your local community.
3. Are you actively publishing? Nothing promotes new releases like old releases. Get a blog. Write articles for your local newspaper.

Congrats on your book! Doesn't it feel great to finish something that big?

[pamelad]

Website is definately an essential!!!

[MaskedMarvel]

Congrats on your book. I would first do everything I can to promote it myself. Get a website and make sure you have a news section. Go into financial forums and talk about your book. Are you in a social networking site? If so let everybody know.

Good luck!

[jamiefic]

There's a book called "Insider Secrets" that goes through the basics of internet marketing... You could probably just google it - not sure how much it costs, but I know it has great info (borrowed it from a friend).

[Car Insurance Guy]

Johansen is absolutely correct - Get a website!
That's your starting place. I recommend using WordPress since you can use free themes and easily update the site regularly with articles/posts that demonstrate your expertise in an area.

I write for an investment related site. It's been great for exposure and selling our membership website on the internet. I won't mention it here, but we've done alright using that and a few other internet marketing methods. But getting online with a decent site is the first step into that arena.

On a related note, one of the great marketers/copywriters, Gary Halbert, used to say the most important thing you need when starting a restaurant is to find a starving crowd. Without that, you'll have a hard time succeeding.

If nobody wants your book, then it's going to be hard to sell it with a website, with a big-name publisher, with any marketing guru. You have to have a market that's actually interested in your material.

All the best on selling your book, kameeo.