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| Recession-Proof Book Marketing Strategies
A recession-proof marketing strategy is characterized by the sustainability of the
book marketing plan through these uncertain recession times and well into economic
growth and betterment in the near future. The marketing strategy is not so much
affected with the cumulative displacements of the predominantly difficult economic
situation, as much as it adapts efficiently and functionally through it.
In simple terms, the marketing strategy should be clear, feasible and practical.
Take a hint: a recession-proof book marketing strategy is something that is long
lasting, something that will transcend the ongoing recession. Thus, a good book
marketing strategy also makes the book publicist work smarter, not more.
Here are some recession-safe book marketing activities that are guaranteed to spare
you from lots of promotional troubles caused by the far reaching consequences of
the ongoing recession
Market the book's value rather than its price. In a time of
economic recession, consumer spending behavior becomes prioritized and rather
selective. For this, convince your readers why they should care at all in being
engaged with your product, and for this purpose, you have to be an effective
marketer without sounding too commercial.
Value your customers as you do prospects. No favoritism here,
treat them equally because you are about to establish a crucial mass readership
that you can rely, and who may just purchase your succeeding works as well.
Maintain an effective yet inexpensive web presence. The Internet
provides authors and publicists with plenty of cost saving marketing tools that are
just as effective as offline book marketing campaigns. The online marketing
techniques include advertising at free ad listing sites, blogging to genre relevant
sites, registering at social networking sites, requesting and arranging for virtual
book tours, uploading book "video-mercials" to video sharing sites, and
sending online media releases.
Write and submit online articles with free reprint rights on a topic that
is book genre relevant. This inexpensive marketing tool builds up, slowly
but surely, an author's credibility and expertise of the given subject matter. It
also provides the author with a web marketing presence that both online researchers
and book readers will appreciate.
Market your books to non-traditional sources to get closer to your target
readers. Do a research on companies, clubs, associations, organizations,
foundations and/or similar groups that are book genre specific and see if there is
a gold mine somewhere for marketing. It is recession safe because you don't have to
spend a great deal of money promoting; what matters is for you to show to them the
many benefits they will gain by purchasing your book.
Send emails with book excerpts to your relatives, friends,
acquaintances, school alumni, and neighbors who have email addresses. Never
underestimate the power of email to generate word-of-mouth marketing - even from
among those whom you are already familiar with. From a marketing context, they are
your "loyal audience". Follow it up by asking them to please send related
emails to people they know who could also be interested in your book. You see,
building a marketing pyramid--but without the fraud--can start in this precise
manner.
Consign your book to relevant local shopkeepers and retailers. For
a minimal consignment fee, your book is prominently displayed and instantly
recognized. So you have a book about pet care? Your local pet shop is just around
the corner. Have an illustrated book about flower varieties? The local florist may
be more than willing to accommodate for a shelf display, a perfect compliment
indeed for your book.
Promote your book to school libraries. Regardless of your book
genre, you can actually market to local or state level libraries, if you are able
to determine which schools are regularly updating their catalogues with new book
purchases and acquisitions. If there is favorable action to your proposal, offer a
reciprocal arrangement for the book acquisition, like volunteering for free book
reading sessions and creative writing discussions.
Be consistent with your marketing plan. To save precious time,
money and effort, study what works for your book subject; know your target market
well by determining what's important to them and what influences them to make a
purchase. Learn the success factors of fellow authors and analyze the recessional
marketing trends to establish a well researched marketing plan. Decide early on
whether your manuscript is promising enough for publishing houses to consider or
you would rather self publish. Also, don't do social networking publicity online
unless you're really motivated to do it. Don't do marketing stuff just because you
think you're supposed to; you might end up wasting hard earned money and resources
in this manner.
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