Home
>
Writing
>
Tips for First Time Authors : 2 Easy Steps to Make Your First Book a Success

Tips for First Time Authors : 2 Easy Steps to Make Your First Book a Success

Congratulations on writing your first book. That is quite an accomplishment. Many people dream of writing a book, but you actually did it. Way to go.

At this point you are probably wondering where to get started, who to contact, how to even take the first step. Don't worry, that is very common. And now you've found a great resource to help you.

Step #1

Create a map for yourself.

If you want to get somewhere you need to know where you are and where you want to be. Then you figure out how you are going to get there. Yet many first time authors jump in with the how to get there specifics ? getting reviews, making it onto bookstore shelves, creating a website.

Instead, start by figuring out your goals. What do you want to happen with your book? Be very specific. Try writing down at least 10 goals for your book. If that was easy, write down 25.

Next, figure out what you have to bring to the project. How much money are you able to invest? How much time can you spend doing marketing? Be realistic. You can make your marketing work with whatever budget you have and time you can allocate.

Then you can start finding specific marketing actions that match your goals and resources. By knowing your goals and resources you can find the exact marketing tools to make your goals a reality within your time and money budget.

Step # 2

Avoid the common mistakes.

Hundreds of thousands of people write books every year. Tens of thousands of these authors are doing it for the first time. It is only natural that some of the same mistakes are made over and over. Once you know what they are you can avoid making them and get ahead with your book faster.

The single most common mistake we see is authors who fail to clearly define their target market. They believe that "everyone" will buy their book.

They waste their valuable resources trying to market to an audience that is too broad. Let me give you an example from the TV show The Apprentice.

Two teams are in New York trying to sell wedding dresses. One team goes to Grand Central Station where there are tons of people and hands out flyers to everyone walking by. The other team stays in the office, goes online and buys an email list from a popular wedding site (theknot.com) of couples getting married who live in the New York area.

The first team trying to sell to "everyone" is reaching tons of people who simply do not care about what they are selling for one very simple reason - they are not getting married.

Will any amount of marketing on the team's part convince them that they need a wedding dress? NO.

Does it even matter how great the wedding dresses are made? NO.

The other team however, has found the perfect target market ? people who live in New York who are getting married.

Do you see the difference? Marketing to people who ALREADY CARE about your book's subject and forgetting the rest of the people who don't care is the ONLY smart way to do marketing.

Kim Dushinski is a partner at MarketAbility, a book publicity firm located in Colorado that specializes in cost-effective, results-driven PR Campaigns. You can find more tips, strategies and techniques specifically designed for first time authors in our First Time Author Toolkit at http://www.marketability.com/first-time-author-info14.html

Brookfield limo Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

Creating an email alias can help clean up your inbox by organizing emails based on purpose, like creating different aliases for shopping, newsletters and work.

A multipurpose robotic system promises to transform how items are stacked onto pallets, aiming to maximize space utilization and reduce shipping costs.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The number of people affected by a UnitedHealth data breach in February 2024 was actually higher than previously reported and was the largest medical data breach in U.S. history.

A phishing campaign uses Google Calendar to schedule fake meeting invitations that appear legitimate, redirecting targets to phishing sites.

Toll road text scam: Fake messages claim unpaid fees, seek payment via fraudulent links. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says this scam is becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says these steps ensure that your friends and family get to the exact moment you want them to see. Try it out and streamline your sharing experience.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers tips on how to protect your identity: Be vigilant, monitor accounts, use smart security, know theft response.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says cybercriminals are exploiting iMessage phishing protection, tricking users to reactivate links.

It's hard to imagine life without in-flight Wi-Fi these days – but sky-high web surfing comes with its own set of privacy concerns. Here's how to protect yourself.

Over 400,000 cases of credit card fraud were reported in 2024 to the Federal Trade Commission. The CyberGuy explains how to protect against becoming another victim.

A nondescript metal box transforms into a fully functional electric motorcycle that blurs the line between vehicle and urban infrastructure.

Many apps unrelated to location still ask users for tracking permission, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit seeking to end this alleged practice by Allstate.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Melody, the artificial intelligence-powered robot, is life-sized and represents a move toward creating robots that resemble people in appearance and interaction.

Here are five easy smartphone rules from the National Security Agency that you can follow to better protect your mobile device from hackers and scammers.

A U.S. robotics company has developed "Jennie," a robotic pet powered by artificial intelligence that's designed to comfort those facing mental health challenges.

Healthcare records for more than 184 million Americans were breached in 2024, but you can take steps to minimize that risk. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

The Skyrider X1 from Rictor claims to be the "first amphibious flying passenger motorcycle," and it combines land and air travel in one sleek design.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Home inventory and restoration apps help itemize and track every item in your home in the event you have to make an insurance claim after a natural disaster.

The White House launched a new cybersecurity safety label, the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, intended to help consumers make informed decisions on smart device safety.

Today's tech can help make life so much easier — if you know how to use it. Here are a few tips on the quickest and best ways to make your phone, laptop and other devices work for you.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers Windows 11 restart fixes: Update drivers, run system scans and check hardware.

Sony and Honda's Afeela 1 EV launches with advanced tech and entertainment for $89,900. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives his takeaways.

Tips for First Time Authors : 2 Easy Steps to Make Your First Book a Success

Writing