“…publishers and agents are big fans of working with authors who already have an established online presence.”
In one of your online articles, you write, “The publishing industry has undergone a lot of changes in the last decade, and if you’re still thinking it works the same way it did back in 1998, you’re going to be in for a rude awakening.” Are you able to speak to one or two of the major ways in which book publishing has changed since then for literary agents and authors?
There are so many ways that publishing has shifted in the last decade, but from all the conversations I have with authors, the one thing they almost always tell me is that publishers and agents are big fans of working with authors who already have an established online presence. They’re always excited to talk to you when they see that you’ve already laid the foundation for your personal brand before they invest a minute into you and your book.
Publishers seem to only be able to devote their very best attention from their marketing/publicity departments to their lead titles and key titles. That leaves the marketing/publicity departments at publishing houses spread thin for other authors at the publishing house. How much of the burden of the marketing/promo has fallen on the shoulders of authors in today’s book publishing landscape?
It used to be the publishers that would be the marketing and publicity machine behind you and your book. Now, you tend to get support from the publishers for about one to three months after publication and then you’re on your own. You’re responsible for generating traffic to the Amazon page, media coverage, book signings, etc… That’s not to say that it’s impossible to launch your book successfully. What this means is that you need to be more committed to being in control of your marketing efforts after the publication date, which could play to your advantage if you put the time and effort into building a great team around you that can execute the right strategy for your book.
I see that your organization has done some work with the Michael Magro Foundation (non-for-profit, 501c3 organization) which focuses on helping families battling pediatric cancer and other illness. What appealed to you about this type of charitable work and how has your company helped that organization?
I’m a huge believer in the philosophy that we can all give back in some way, shape or form. The Michael Magro Foundation does a tremendous job of helping families battling pediatric cancer and other illness. Whenever they have an event they need help promoting my team and I are always there to design whatever flyers, logos, or graphics they may need. It’s the least we can do to support such an incredible organization.
Are there any books out there on book marketing that you might recommend to authors as a good starting point?
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk. Hands down, one of the best marketing books for someone looking to leverage the power of social media to promote their brand.