How to Know if You’re Positioned to Be a Best Seller

There’s a strategy to publishing and launching your book. There’s a recipe that makes it a best seller. My company, Ministry Marketing Solutions, has promoted well over 300 hundred books over the last two decades – so I know what ingredients make a book hit the Top of the Sales charts. Assuming the book is really GOOD – there are the other things that must be in place to reach the status of “best seller:”

• I have a “30 second” pitch memorized about my book.
• I have a long and short bio (or one sheeter) written and when people read it they go, “Wow.”
• I have an assortment of PROFESSIONAL head shots, speaking shots, full body shots and if an author, the book cover in electronic formats
• I have a PDF of my book for the media to access in a hurry or a white paper of my expertise.
• I have a book trailer.
• I have a list of topics with bullet points I can speak about on the air.
• I have at least 10 questions and a Fact Sheet prepared for the media for interviews
• I know how to speak in media-savvy sound bites.
• I have a platform for my book.
• I have built a demand or anticipation for my book.
• I have built an email list of interested prospects/readers.
• I consistently create and/or curate content for my blog.
• I have a professional press kit and EPK.
• I have links to video, audio & print interviews I’ve done on my website
• I speak, give webinars or teleseminar regularly on my book topic.
• I have a professional author photo. ➡
• I know what goes in a press kit & add to it continually.
•  I have endorsements for my book.
• My book cover sells my book without ME being there to explain it.
• I have by-lines in other publications.
• I have the Writers Market and/or the Christian Writers Market Guide, and know who to submit articles to.
• I write articles and submit to article directories online.
• I have employed a social networking strategy (i.e. facebook, pinterest, twitter) in my branding strategy.
• I have a web page dedicated to selling my book. 
• I have an ad budget and use it strategically.
• I plan to run Facebook sponsored ads to promote my page
• I have an advertising plan. (Advertise in Speakers Magazine if you speak)
• I know the top ten books in my genre and their websites.
• I have book mentor or coach.
• I have attended writer’s or trade conferences around my area of expertise.
• I capture leads from my Facebook “Like” page with an opt-in box and a “freemium.”
• I join forums where readers and referral partners are and comment.
• I have strong SEO (search engine optimization).
• I have polished and popular online brand where people respond and interact with me.
• I have social network consistently to promote my message and create relationships/partners.
• I subscribe to blogs in my expert area and post blog comments.
• I’ve been a “guest blogger.”
• I regularly send out press releases through PR Wire services like PWWeb, PRNewswire, Black Gospel Promo, or Black News.
• I regularly solicit testimonials from readers.
• I have a lot of five-star reviews on Amazon.
• I have an author page on Amazon.
• I have postcards or bookmarks for my book, and put them everywhere.
• I conduct regular postcard mailings and email campaigns to prospects, bookstores, libraries, meeting planners, etc.
• I have a regular podcast, video blog or BlogTalk Show.
• I have been interviewed about my book and have copies of the interview or clips.
• I know how to pitch the media with great “Hooks.”
• I study the media before I pitch them.
• I know who is my target reader and know what media they consume.
• I have national distribution for my book.
•  I know people in the media, journalists, authors, writers, talk show hosts, bloggers, leaders and influential friends who might help “spread the news” about my book.
• I have articles published specifically about my book.

All of the above is what we do for our clients.  You can’t short cut it – you need all these ingredients to make a winner! It takes about a year to set all this up to really get traction for a best seller – at the very least, six months. Anything less than that means you will launch with the limp.  My mentoring program goes over all this and gives your checklists, teleclasses, blueprints, webinars, access to me via our private FB group, videos and other resources.  It’s the best way I know how to prepare an author that is on a budget. Join it if you want to make the best use of your time and cut down time trying to “figure it all out” yourself.

 ➡  See www.PamPerryMentoring.com – it’s the “secret sauce” to the recipe for a best seller campaign. I hold weekly teleclasses, if you’re a member of the mentoring group, you get full access to the recordings and the notes!